58 WOLF'S WILD ANIMALS. 



furiously meanwhile with his trunk. So violent were his efforts, and so severe the 

 blows he dealt the Lions, that they were obliged to give up the attempt upon 

 his life, and to retreat from him before he reached the water. His lacerated hide, 

 gashed in many places, bore evidence of the dreadful power of the claws of the 

 ferocious beasts that had assailed him, and nothing less than his own prodigious 

 strength could have possibly enabled him to survive such an encounter. The same 

 observer states that he once saw a Lion attack a buffalo bull, with a more success- 

 ful result so far as the King of Beasts was concerned. The Lion sprang upon 

 the bull from behind, and, getting upon his back, with one blow of his paw dealt 

 upon the neck, brought the animal to the ground, where he was soon dispatched. 



Splendid must this noble beast appear as he bounds over the plain, or, when 

 pursued by the hunters, he stands at bay on his chosen vantage ground. Here 

 he bids defiance to his enemies, and does not hesitate to attack them furiously 

 should they approach too near his stronghold. Harris mentions an instance where 

 one thus stood at bay and fought for his life, which gives a vivid picture of the 

 King of Beasts in his native wilds. He was discovered under the shadow of a 

 thick bush, and as the hunters reined up their horses near by, "the grim savage 

 bolted out with a roar, like thunder, and bounded across the plain with the agility 

 of a greyhound. The luxuriant beauty of his shaggy, black mane, which almost 

 swept the ground, tempted us, contrary to established rule, to give him battle with 

 the design of obtaining his spoils ; and he no sooner found himself hotly pursued 

 than he faced about, and stood at bay in a mimosa grove, measuring the strength 

 of his assailants with a most noble and imposing mien. Disliking our appearance 

 however, and not relishing the smell of gunpowder, he soon abandoned the grove, 

 and took up his position on the summit of an adjacent, stony hill. Crouched on 

 this fortified pinnacle, like the sculptured figure at the entrance of a nobleman's 

 park, the enemy disdainfully surveyed us for several minutes, daring us to approach 

 with an air of conscious power and pride, which well beseemed his grizzled 

 form. As the rifle balls struck the ground nearer and nearer at each discharge, 

 his wrath, as indicated by his glistening eyes, his increased roar, and impatient 

 switching of the tail, was clearly getting the mastery over his prudence. Presently 

 a shot broke his leg. Down he came with reckless impetuosity, his tail straight 

 out and whirling on its axis, his mane bristling, on end, and his eye-balls flashing 

 rage and vengeance. Unable, however, to overtake our horses, he shortly retreated, 



