Notices of new books. 37 



by experience and by the teachings of others. Lastly, if the 

 object of the sportsman be to secure trophies of the chase for 

 transport to England, it is evident that he should know how to 

 take off a skin and preserve it. 



These are some of the qualities which go to make a mighty 

 hunter (such as the author of this book evidently is), and which 

 are admirably brought out in his narrative. It does not always 

 do, however, to be too self-reliant; one should draw the line 

 between courage and foolhardiness, as witness the adventure with 

 lions described on pages 144-145. 



Two small objects were seen out in the open plain the best 

 part of a mile off, looking like two ant-heaps. They proved to 

 be lions' heads, and this was what happened : — 



" The animals got up, and were walking slowly over the open plain, 

 one behind the other. I saw at once that they were lions from the length 

 of their bodies, and the way they held their heads below the line of their 

 backs. I could see, too, that they were males, from the thick humpy look 

 of their necks caused by the mane. Oh, for a rifle and ten cartridges, and 

 then, as I was very well mounted, I should in all probability have added 

 two more lion-skins to my collection. Thinking that, as I could not shoot 

 them, 1 would like to have a look at them, I mounted my good horse, Bob, 

 and galloped towards them. They continued to walk slowly along, until 

 I was within 400 yards of them, when, after first turning to look at me, 

 they went off at a heavy canter, but soon commenced to trot, and when 

 I was about 200 yards from them stopped, and facing round stood side by side 

 with their heads held low and their mouths slightly open, and all the time 

 twitching their tails and growling savagely. I continued to ride straight 

 towards them, thinking they would give way and run again ; but when 

 within about 100 yards, as they still stood defiant, and one of them, a very 

 fine dark-skinned animal with a handsome mane, seemed particularly 

 furious, I slightly turned my horse's head so as to pass them at a distance 

 of sixty or seventy yards. Whilst executing this movement, the dark-maned 

 lion came slowly towards me for a few steps, and then, bounding forward 

 and growling loudly, charged out at his best speed. As I had to half turn 

 my horse and get him into his stride, the lion got within some ten yards or 

 so of his tail before he was going at his best pace, and stuck close to him for 

 some distance. How far he chased me I am afraid to say, but a very 

 considerable distance, and certainly twice as far as I have ever been pursued 

 by any other of his kind. When at last he pulled up, he trotted slowly back 

 to his comrade, and they both lay down on the bare open ground, with their 

 massive paws outstretched, their heads held high, and their mouths half 

 open, with their tongues lolling out, for it was a very hot day." 



