350 The Hunting Grounds 



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 whining noises, and turning 

 his head every now and again to look at his mate 

 and cubs, who understanding 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 1 had been riding to break from the grasp 

 of the Hottentot, who was holding it, and scour over 

 the plain. On seeing me advance, he again stopped, 

 and, couching low on his belly, growled in a most 

 savage manner. I felt that "the die was cast," and 

 there was no retreating; it was a regular duel be- 

 tween man and beast, and was beginning to be rather 

 serious work, for we were barely sixty yards asunder. 

 The lion still lay with his head couched between 

 his paws, although every now and then he appeared 

 to rise, and tear up the earth with his hind 



