42 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



making the greatest clamour in his face, without the least appearance of fear. 

 The lion, conscious of his strength, remained unmoved by their noisy attempts, 

 and kept his head turned towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his 

 eyes thus engaged, had advanced close to his feet, and seemed as if they would 

 actually seize hold of him ; but they paid dearly for their impudence, for 

 without discomposing the majestic and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, 

 he merely moved his paw, and at the next instant I beheld two lying dead. 

 In doing this, he made so little exertion, that it was scarcely perceptible by 

 what means they had been killed. Of the time which we had gained by the 

 interference of the dogs, not a moment was lost ; we fired upon him ; one of 

 the balls went through his side just between the short ribs, and the blood 

 immediately began to flow; but the animal still remained standing in 

 the same position. We had now no doubt that he would spring upon us ; 

 every gun was instantly reloaded ; but happily we were mistaken, and were 

 not sorry to see him move quietly away. ... Of the courage of the 

 lion I have no very high opinion, but of his majestic air and movement, as 

 exhibited by this animal, while at liberty in his native plains, I can bear 

 testimony. Notwithstanding the pain of a wound of which he must soon after- 

 wards have died, he moved slowly away with a stately and measured step." 



Livingstone, notwithstanding his terrible experience recorded above, held 

 the same feeling in regard to the corn-age of the Hon ; but because a lion does 

 not always attack a man when it has the opportunity, this fact is no proof that it 

 lacks courage. "When the lion has had a full meal it will undoubtedly avoid 

 an encounter ; and he cannot be aware that mankind have made him the 

 symbol of courage and strength, and that he is expected to show both on all 

 and every occasion. He only kills that he may eat, and only attacks man 

 and animals when he is hungry, or is brought suddenly into contact with 

 them. Further, his instincts are so peculiar that we cannot guess what 

 strange thing or circumstance may have turned him aside in such an 

 instance as that related above. In a state of nature he only kills his prey 

 when pressed by hunger, and unlike the tiger, unless fighting for his life, 

 never kills from a wanton thirst for blood. This which is made to detract from 

 his courage and nobility, is, to our thinking, another reason, and a powerful 

 one, for his being allowed to retain his title of " King of the Forest." Un- 

 doubtedly the most courageous animal is the dog, but much of that courage 

 has been gained by association with man. The wild dog, like the wolf, hunts 

 in packs, and is very unwilling to attack man under any circumstances, and only 

 does so when supported by numbers. Imagine what a lion would be if tamed, 

 and trained only to exercise his courage and terrible strength against animals 

 and the enemies of his master! 



Lichtenstein relates an extraordinary encounter with a lion on the part 

 of a Dutch settler, for which we must find room : — 



