HUNTING THE LION. 149 



maned lion appeared among the grass not far ahead of the 

 animals, as if waiting for the lioness to put them to flight. 

 Fortunately the oxen ceased running, and huddled to- 

 gether among the bushes by the fountain, about one 

 hundred and fifty yards from where we were eating. Now 

 was the time to show if we were equal to the open attack 

 upon the lordly lion. Each of us seized a two-barrelled 

 rifle and ran forward to obtain a fair shot. I got within 

 seventy yards of the lion, and taking as cool an aim as 

 the proximity of such an animal would permit, fired. An 

 excellent shot ; the lion was hit in the shoulder, and bound- 

 ing forward, he growled most ferociously, and struck a 

 bee-line for the neighboring ridge. Mr. Barrill fired at 

 the lioness, but missed, and she scampered away far ahead 

 of her wounded lord. Determined to follow up my suc- 

 cess, and, alone, achieve a victory over one of these 

 powerful animals, I quickly reloaded, and set off on foot 

 shouting to my English friend, that he might follow or 

 remain -as he chose. He came on slowly, so that I was 

 soon far ahead of him, and near the lion. The track was 

 deeply dyed with blood. Near the base of the ridge, it 

 led among some thick bushes, where extreme caution 

 was necessary to guard against a sudden attack. I beat 

 the bushes before me as I went. Suddenly, I heard an 

 awful growl, within about ten yards of me, and walking 

 .n Diselessly around the path the lion had marked with hi$ 



13* 



