154 A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. 



the arm with which I tried to keep him off, and fixing his 

 claws into my shoulders. The pain was so great that I 

 shrieked out ; but there was no one within five miles to 

 help me, and I knew that I must fight the battle myself 

 for my life. My right arm being free, I plunged my long 

 knife into the brute's stomach and ripped him up to the 

 chest, and gave him one or two digs behind the shoulder, 

 which must have found his heart, as he suddenly relaxed 

 his hold and fell down from me. The flesh on my thighs 

 was badly torn, as he had fixed his hind-legs there and 

 scratched me, as I have seen two kittens do to each other 

 at play. This struggle was all over in a few seconds, but 

 I had been knocked down, torn, and my arm broken 

 during the time. I tried to get up, but felt giddy and 

 queer, and fell back on the ground insensible. 



" When I again came to myself, and knew all that had 

 happened, it was quite dark, and I found myself very 

 cold. I tried to get up, but came again to the ground, 

 from pain and weakness. I was in great agony, and felt 

 dreadfully thirsty. A little stream ran down the kloof, 

 and I could hear the water rippling along merrily within 

 a few yards, and yet I could not move. I must have 

 bled very much, as my legs were awfully torn as well as 

 my shoulders, and my arm broken. I could not judge at 

 all what time it was, as, where I lay, the trees prevented 

 my getting much of a view of the stars, and there was no 

 moon to judge by. I lay thinking whether I should live 

 or die, and what my friends and Katrine would think had 

 become of me. The only probable chance of any one 

 coming to help me seemed to be that my pony would 



