268 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



These men were very reluctant to go, fearing a lion 

 might have taken possession of the carcass. On pro- 

 ceeding to reconnoiter from our side, they beheld the 

 majestic beast they dreaded walk slowly up the opposite 

 bank from the dead buffalo, and take up a position on 

 the top of the bank under some shady thorn-trees. I 

 resolved to give him battle, and rode forth with my 

 double-barreled Westley Richards rifle, followed by 

 men leading the dogs. Present, who was one of the 

 party, carried his roer, no doubt to perform wonders. 

 The wind blew up the river ; I held up to seek a drift, 

 and crossed a short distance above where the buffalo lay. 

 As we drew near the spot, I observed the lion sitting 

 on the top of the bank, exactly where he had been seen 

 by my people. On my right, and within two hundred 

 yards of me, was a very extensive troop of pallahs, 

 which antelope invariably manages to be in the way 

 when they are not at all wanted. On this occasion, 

 however, I succeeded in preventing my dogs from ob- 

 serving them. When the lion saw us coming, he over- 

 hauled us for a moment, and then slunk down the bank 

 for concealment. Being well to leeward of him, I or- 

 dered the dogs to be slipped, and galloped forward. 



On finding that he was attacked, the lion at first 

 made a most determined bolt for it, followed by all the 

 dogs at a racing pace; and when they came up with 

 him he would not bay, but continued his course down 

 the bank of the river, keeping close in beside the reeds, 

 growling terribly at the dogs, which kept up an inces- 

 sant angry barking. The bank of the river was inter- 

 sected by deep water-courses, and, the ground being ex- 

 tremely slippery from the rain which had fallen during 

 the night, I was unable to overtake him until he came 

 to bay in a patch of lofty dense reeds which grew on the 



