174 HUNTING THE GIRAFFE. 



have had to be extremely agile to effect an escape But 

 we resolved to be careful not to provoke the anger of 

 such enemies. In about an hour after we had taken 

 our perch, a single giraffe approached the stream, within 

 twenty yards of us. Its advance was slow and cautious, 

 and, by the moonlight, it looked like a stately tree 

 moving to the stream. The noble animal at length 

 emerged from the trees, and stood on the bank. Our rifles 

 were raised, and we were about to pull the trigger, when 

 a tremendous spriug brushed away the branches, and an 

 enormous lion was upon the back of the struggling giraffe, 

 tearing the flesh with its teeth and claws. In the struggle 

 the head of the giraffe came near knocking me out of the 

 tree. I told Mr. Barrill to aim at the head of the giraffe, 

 and I would strive to bring down the lion, and we fired 

 nearly at the same moment the animals being within ten 

 feet of us. The lion go his terrible hold, and uttering an 

 awful groan, fell to the ground. The giraffe tottered, and 

 fell crashing among the trees, which upheld the animal's 

 weight, although it was still struggling, and I had an op- 

 portunity of firing a mortal shot into its breast. This 

 early triumph was all we could expect to achieve that night, 

 as the report of the rifles would alarm the rest of the game, 

 so we called out for Carollus to come to our aid, and 

 descended from the tree. 



The Hottentots brought two lanterns. By the light 



