ADVENTURES WITH LIONS. 581 
with the most perfect gravity, “They evidently talked to 
each other, but though loud enough, I could not understand 
a word they said; and, fearing lest we should be the next 
objects of their skill, we crept away and left them in council.” 
This is a fine story, and I do not regard it with near the 
suspicion with which I do those vaunting ones of personal 
adventure to which I have referred. Ido not at all doubt 
the sagacious measuring of strength with distance by the 
lion. How else could certainty be secured in the next 
experiment—though the self-educating processes of the 
young lion are plainly indicated. Another story of more 
tragic character is given. 
The following fact will show the fearful dangers to which 
solitary travellers are sometimes exposed. ' A man belonging 
to Mr. Schmelen’s. congregation, at Bethany, returning home- 
wards from a visit to his friends, took a circuitous course in 
order to pass a small fountain, or rather pool, where he hoped 
to kill an antelope, to carry home to his family. The -sun 
had risen to some height by the time he reached the spot, 
and seeing no game, he laid his gun down on a shelving low 
rock, the back part of which was covered over with a species 
of dwarf thorn-bushes. He went to the water, took a hearty 
drink, and returned to the rock, smoked his pipe, and being 
a little tired, fell asleep. In a short time the heat reflected 
from the rock awoke him, and opening his eyes, he saw a 
large lion crouching before him, with its eyes glaring in his 
* face, and within little more than a yard of his feet. He sat 
motionless for some minutes, till he had recovered his presence 
of mind, then eyeing his gun, moved his hand slowly towards 
it; the lion seeing him, raised its head, and gave a tremendous 
roar; he made another and another attempt, but the gun 
being far beyond his reach, he gave it up, as the lion seemed 
well aware of his object, and was enraged whenever he 
attempted to move his hand. His situation now became 
painful in the extreme; the rock on which he sat became 
