212 A LION HUNT. 



men undoubtedly saw lions, and the intelligence 

 caused an instant halt. 



" While he and Captain A. strained their eyes 

 to make out the various indistinct objects, the two 

 Hottentots coming up, made in decided and animated 

 voices the cheering announcement, ( Lions below P 

 and pointed to two brownish objects now beginning 

 to be in motion in the dark green bottom of the nar- 

 row valley. A short examination left no doubt of 

 the joyful fact ; and after a hasty exhortation to keep 

 together, and to pull up and dismount at once on 

 receiving the word from Captain A., we grasped our 

 double barrels, and gave the spur to our steeds to 

 overtake the chase, who were soon out of the long 

 grass, and going off to the opposite slope. Captain 

 A.'s clear ' tally-ho' was chorussed loudly as we 

 galloped down the brae, cheering to bring them to ; 

 when from the same rushy bottom emerged two 

 others, going off to the right, and for them we imme- 

 diately rode, and quickly swept through the firm, 

 though rank grassy hollow. As we were fast gain- 

 ing on them up the rise, they suddenly swung round 

 in succession, like two cutters suddenly letting go 

 anchor while carrying a press of canvass off the wind ; 

 and there they lay couched, two lionesses seemingly, 

 with heads erect, and glaring eyes, jaws half open- 

 ing, and swinging tails. 



" Captain A., warning us to be cool and steady, 

 or else there would be mischief, (as an encounter 



