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prepared to open the campaign on my own hook — 

 trusting to a steady hand and good weapons to see mu 

 safely through it. On my retreat, on account of tho 

 restiveness of my horse, the lion had advanced nearly 

 two hundred yards from the spot where the dead 

 spring-bucks lay, leaving the lioness and cubs still 

 feeding, and he was now coolly surveying our party, 

 stretched out at full length on the grass, with his 

 paws out before him, and yawning listlessly, about 

 four hundred yards distant. On perceiving me ad- 

 vancing towards him, he made a long, low moaning 

 noise, like thunder rumbling among distant hills, by 

 which he thought perhaps to intimidate me ; but 

 finding it had not the desired effect, he got up and 

 sat on his haunches like a dog, making curious whin- 

 ing noises, and turning his head every now and 

 again to look at his mate and cubs, who understand- 

 ing from his growling, which was becoming more 

 and more savage, that something was up, withdrew 

 to some low sand-hills, a short distance away, which 

 I was rather thankful for.. When I got to about 

 two hundred and fifty yards distant, I stopped to 

 unsling my second gun from my shoulder, so as to 

 be ready ; on which my friend sprung to his feet, 

 and made three or four huge bounds towards me, 

 lashing his tail from side to side, showing his teeth, 

 and giving a tremendous roar, which seemed to 

 shake the earth, and caused the horse I had been 

 riding to break from the grasp of the Hottentot, 

 who was holding it, and scour over the plain. On 



