THE FELINE AND CANINE TRIBES. 493 



teeth, and hung on them, until the affrighted animal managed to shake 

 him off by incessant kicking. 



The lion retreated farther into the thicket ; Captain Woodhouse, 

 in the meantime, firing a random shot at him, which proved of no 

 avail, as the jolting of the elephant and the uproar of the moment 

 prevented him from taking a steady aim. No exertions on the part 

 of the officers could now force the terrified elephant to face his fierce 

 foe; and they found themselves reduced to the necessity of dismount- 

 ing. Determined, however, to come to still closer quarters with the 

 formidable king of quadrupeds, Captain Woodhouse took the des- 

 perate resolution to proceed on foot in quest of him; and, after 

 searching about for some time, he observed the lion indistinctly 

 through the bushes, and discharged his rifle at him; but he was 

 pretty well convinced that he had not hit him, for he saw the lion 

 retire with the utmost composure into the thicker parts of the brake. 

 The two lieutenants, who had remained at the outside of the jungle, 

 joined their companion on hearing the report of his gun. 



The weather was intolerably sultry. After vainly spending a con- 

 siderable time in creeping through the grass and bushes, with the 

 hope of discovering the place of the lion's retreat, they concluded 

 that he had passed quite through the jungle, and gone off in an 

 opposite direction. Resolved not to let their game escape, the lieu- 

 tenants returned to the elephant, and immediately proceeded round 

 the jungle, expecting to discover the route which they conjectured the 

 lion had taken. Captain Woodhouse, however, remained in the 

 thicket ; and as he could discern the print of the animal's feet on the 

 ground, he boldly resolved to follow up the track at all hazards. 

 The Indian game-finder, who continued with his commander, at last 

 espied the lion in the cover, and pointed him out to the captain, who 

 fired, but unfortunately missed his mark. There was now no 

 alternative left but to retreat and load his rifle. Having retired to a 

 distance, he was joined by Lieutenant Delamain, who had dismounted 

 from his elephant on hearing the report of the gun. This unexpected 

 meeting increased the captain's hopes of ultimate success. He lost 

 no time in pointing out to the lieutenant the place where he would 

 probably find the lion, and said he would be up with him in a moment 

 or two. 



