274 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFEICA. 



vley before me black with an immense herd of buffa- 

 loes, two of which I wounded, but did not follow. 



A few days after this, just as Swint had milked the 

 cows, and was driving them from the wooded peninsula 

 in which we lay, athwart the open ground, to graze 

 with rhy other cattle in the forest beyond, he beheld 

 four majestic lions walk slowly across the vley, a few 

 hundred yards below my camp, and disappear over the 

 river's bank at a favorite drinking-place. These mighty 

 monarchs of the waste had been holding a prolonged 

 repast over the carcasses of some zebras killed by Pres- 

 ent, and had now come down to the river to slake their 

 thirst. This being reported, I instantly saddled up two 

 Horses, and, directing my boys to lead after me as quick- 

 ly as possible my small remaining pack of sore-footed 

 dogs, I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a 

 spare gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. As I 

 rode out of the peninsula, they showed themselves on 

 the bank of the river, and, guessing that their first 

 move would be a disgraceful retreat, I determined to 

 ride so as to make them think that I had not observed 

 them, until I should be able to cut off their retreat from 

 the river, across the open vley, to the endless forest be- 

 yond. That point being gained, I knew that they, still 

 doubtful of my having observed them, would hold their 

 ground on the river's bank until my dogs came up, 

 when I could more advantageously make the attack. 



I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass the 

 lions at a distance of a quarter of a mile, until I was 

 opposite to them, when I altered my course, and inclin- 

 ed a little nearer. The lions then showed symptoms 

 of uneasiness : they rose to their feet, and, overhauling 

 us for half a minute, disappeared over the bank. They 

 reappeared, however, directly, a little further down; 



