70 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



John E a bold and experienced hunter, had com- 

 pleted a successful season amongst the great game in this 

 part of Amaswaziland. He was returning to his waggons 

 with the intention of going home. Sport was all over 

 for the season, and doubtless his mind was dwelling on 

 the pleasant prospect of rejoining friends and kindred. 



The party were travelling along a native path. They 

 saw a troop of four or five lions not very far from the 

 path ; one of these was a large black-maned lion, and 



E proposed to diverge from the path and take a shot 



at them. Some of the party objected, but gave way to 



E 's wish, as he wanted to kill the black-maner. 



They approached the lions, who perceived them and began 

 to make off. They fired, I think killing one lion, and 

 breaking the shoulder of the black-maner. He separated 

 from the rest and went down towards a hollow which 

 lay to the right. 



E had a native hunter, named Betyan, who was 



armed with a single-barrelled musket. The party followed 

 the lion, but Betyan, being fleet of foot and courageous, 

 managed to cross the hollow and thus head the lion, 

 who only having three legs to run with could not get 

 over the ground very fast. 



The lion descended into the hollow and was mounting 

 the farther bank when he met Betyan face to face. 

 Betyan fired and knocked the lion backwards into the 

 hollow, smashing one side of his lower jaw with the 

 bullet. 



The lion turned straight back in the direction from 

 which he had just come, and met the party who were 

 following him. The suddenness of the rencontre appears 

 to have startled the party. There was a cry of, " Look 

 out, there he comes back again " ! 



