122 



FelidjE.- 



-MAJIMALIA.- 



-FeLIDjE. 



oil the bank above, followed by a discharge of fire-arms, 

 rrcsontly, however, all was still again ; for the lion, as 

 I subsequently learnt, after showing himself on the 

 outskirts of the brake, had retreated into it. Once 

 more I attcmiited to dislodge the beast; but finding 

 the enemy awaiting him in the more open country, 

 he was very loath to leave his stronghold. Again, 

 however, I succeeded in driving him to the edge 

 of the brake, where, as in the first instance, ho was 

 received with a volley ; but a broomstick would have 

 been equally efficacious as a gun in the hands of 

 these people, for out of a great number of shots that 

 were fired, not one seemed to have taken effect. AVorn 

 out at length with my exertions, and disgusted beyond 

 measure at the way in which the natives bungled the 

 affair, I left the tamarisk brake, and, rejoining them on 

 the bank above, offered to change place with them ; 

 but my proposal, as I expected, was forthwith declined. 

 As the day, however, was now fast drawing to a close, 

 I delennined to make one other effort to destroy the 

 lion, and, should that prove unsuccessful, to give up 

 the chase. Accordingly, accompanied by a single 

 native, I again entered the brake in question, which I 

 examined for some time without seeing anything ; but 

 on arriving at that part of the cover we had first 

 searched, and when in a spot comparatively free from 

 bushes, up suddenly sprung the beast within a few 

 paces of me. It was a Uack-maned lion, and one 

 of the largest I ever remember to have encoimtered in 

 Africa. But his movements were so rapid, so silent 

 and smooth withal, that it was not until he had par- 

 tially entered the thick cover — at which time he might 

 have been about thirty paces distant — that I could fire. 

 On receiving the ball he wheeled short about, and, with 

 a terrific roar, bounded towards me. When within a 

 few paces, he couched as if about to spring, having his 

 head imbedded, so to say, between his fore-paws. 

 Drawing a largo hunting-knife and slipping it over the 

 wrist of my right hand, I dropped on one knee, and, 

 thus prepared, awaited his onset. It was an awful 

 moment of suspense, and my situation was critical in 

 the extreme. Still my presence of mind never for a 

 moment forsook me — indeed, I felt that nothing but 

 the most perfect coolness and absolute self-command 

 woidd be of any avail. I would now have become the 

 assailant ; but as — owing to the intci'vening bushes, and 

 clouds of dust raised by the lion's lashing his tail 

 against the ground — I was unable to see his head, 

 while to aim at any other part would have been mad- 

 ness, I refrained from firing. Whilst intently watching 

 his every motion, he suddenly bounded towards me ; 

 but — whether it was owing to his not perceiving me, 

 partially concealed as I was in the long grass, or to my 

 instinctively throwing my body on one side, or to his 

 miscalculating the distance — in making his last spring, 

 he went clear over me, and alighted on the ground 

 three or four paces beyond. Instantly, and without 

 rising, I wheeled round on my knee, and discharged 

 my second barrel, and, as his broadside was then 

 towards me, lodged a ball in his shoulder, which it 

 completelj' smashed. On receiving my second fire, he 

 made another and more determined rush at me ; but, 

 owing to his disabled state, I happily avoided him. It 



was, however, only by a hair's breadth, for he passed 

 me within arm's length. He afterwards scrambled into 

 the thick cover, beyond whore, as niglit was then 

 approaching, I did not deem it prudent to pursue him." 

 Next morning they found the spot wdiere the poor 

 brute had passed the night in sleepless agony; but it 

 was not until the expiration of several days that his 

 carcase was found, then in a state of decomposition ; 

 and thus ends the story. Many other naiTow escapes 

 are recorded by Mr. Andersson, some of which are 

 even more astonishing. In most instances it would 

 appear that these escapes depend upon the cowardice 

 of the lion, which also does not seem to be able to 

 recognize the proper moment when an intended victim 

 is entirely within its power. Thus, for example, what 

 can be more extraordinary than the following incident, 

 given by the same gentleman ? — An old waggon-driver, 

 Piet by name, " riding along one morning in a very 

 weak state, having just recovered from a severe fever, 

 a lion suddenly nished on him. The ox became 

 frightened, and threw the old man. One of his feet 

 was caught in the stirrup; but, fortunately, the 'weld' 

 shoe slipped off. ' I know,' said the old veteran hunter, 

 ' I was thrown, and that I got on my legs again, but in 

 what manner is quite a mystery to mo to this day. I 

 called, as loud as my feeble voice permitted, to my 

 people to bring a gun, the lion always getting nearer 

 and nearer, until he stood within arm's length. I once 

 or twice tried to pull out my pistol or my sword-knife, 

 which, as you know, I usually carry about with me, 

 but hi my anxiety I missed them. My jacket was 

 lying just in front of me on the ground, but the brute 

 had one of his paws on it. I felt desperate, however, 

 and, pulling it forcibly away, struck the lion on tlie 

 head, wdien he grinned and growded terribly, and I 

 expected every moment he would tear me to pieces. 

 At this juncture ray damara, who fortunately had 

 heard my cries of distress, came running up with my 

 gun. Taking the piece from the man, I fired at the 

 lion, who had retreated a few paces, where he sat 

 quietly looking at me. I dont know whether I hit him, 

 for what with the sudden fright and my weak constitu- 

 tion, I felt very unsteady. Ee that as it may, it had 

 at all events the elTect of scaring him away, for at the 

 report of the gun he instantly betook himself to 

 cover.' " In such cases as the above, one cannot but 

 recognize a providentially-implanted fearfulness in the 

 the lion, wdiich frequently gives to the human victim 

 an opportunity of escape ; and perhaps, therefore, those 

 instances of deliverance, where the animal has already 

 partially succeeded in overcoming his intended prey, 

 ought to be considered the more remarkable — such, 

 for example, as that of the escape of Dr. Livingstone, 

 which is described by the distinguished missionary 

 himself as follows : — " Being about thirty yards oft', I 

 took a good aim at his body through the bush, and 

 fired both barrels into it. The men then called out, 

 'He is shot, he is shot!' Others cried, 'He has been 

 shot by another man too; let us go to him!' I did 

 not see any one else shoot at him, but I saw the lion's 

 tail erected in anger behind the bush, and, turning to 

 the people, said, ' Stop a little till I load again.' When 

 in the act of ramming down the bullets I heard a shout. 



