ADVENTURES WITH LIONS. 585 
lioness at which I had fired wheeled right round, and came 
on lashing her tail, showing her teeth, and making that 
horrid, murderous deep growl which an angry lion generally 
utters. At the same moment, her comrade, who seemed 
better te know that she was in the presence of man, made a 
hasty retreat into the reeds. The instant the lioness came 
on, I stood up to my full height, holding my rifle, and my 
arms extended, and high above my head. This checked her 
in her course; but on looking round and missing her comradé, 
and observing Ruyter slowly advancing, she was still more 
exasperated, and, fancying that she was being surrounded, 
she made another forward movement, growling terribly. 
This was a moment of great danger, I felt that my only 
chance of safety was extreme steadiness; so, standing 
motionless as a rock, with my eyes firmly fixed upon her, I 
called out in a clear, commanding voice, “ Holloa! old girl, 
what’s the hurry? take it easy; holloa! holloa!’ She 
instantly once more halted, and seémed perplexed, looking 
round for her comrade. I then thought it prudent to beat 
a retreat, which I very slowly did, talking to the lioness all 
the time. She seemed undecided as to her future movements, 
and was gazing after me and snuffing the ground when I last 
beheld her. 
But here we have another adventure of his with a lioness, 
too, in which he does not prove altogether so successful in 
“running his face” upon the roused lady of the wastes. 
Suddenly I observed a number of vultures seated on the 
plain, about a quarter of a mile ahead of us, and close beside 
them stood a huge lioness, consuming a blesbok which she 
had killed. She was assisted in her repast by about a dozen 
jackals, which were feasting along with her in the most 
friendly and confidential manner. Directing my followers’ 
attention to the spot, I remarked, “I see the lion ;” to which 
they replied, “ Whar? whar? Yah! Almagtag! dat is he;” 
and instantly reining in their steeds and wheeling about, 
