340 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



to a low cone-shaped hill, which I ascended, to 

 get a better survey of the surrounding country. 

 I was sweeping the horizon with my field-glass, 

 which was not of much use on account of a 

 mirage that obstructed the view, and made all 

 distant objects look dim, when ' Kleine,' the 

 Hottentot boy, tapping me on the shoulder, 

 pointed out a flock of vultures that were cir- 

 cling in the air at some short distance, saying, 

 ' Dar ist der verdamt tau ! ' (There is the 

 cursed lion !) I turned my glass to the spot, 

 without distinguishing anything, but on cantering 

 ahead, I soon had the gratification of seeing a full- 

 grown lion and lioness, with two half-grown cubs, 

 feasting on the remains of two spring-bucks. I 

 looked to my nipples, to see the powder was well up, 

 and rode towards them ; but my horse did not at all 

 like the sport, and became so extremely violent and 

 restive, from fear, as to be almost unmanageable, 

 and finding that I should have had no chance of 

 firing from the saddle with any precision, I had to 

 return to S , who, with the Dutchman and ser- 

 vants, had pulled up, on observing the lions, which 

 were game none of them seemed inclined to attack, 



for although S was a fearless hunter, he had 



been sufiering from an inflammation and weakness 

 of the eyes, caused by the excessive glare of the sun 

 reflected from the sand, and his sight was so much 

 affected that he could no longer depend upon his 

 aim as in days of yore. I therefore dismounted, ami 



