116 DEFENCE AGAINST ANIMALS OF 



lordly strangers. The officers fired immediately, 

 and one of the lions fell to rise no more. His com- 

 panion broke cover^ and took off across the country. 

 The officers now pursued him on horseback as fast 

 as the nature of the ground would allow, until they 

 learned from the men who were stationed in the 

 trees, and who held up flags by way of signal, that 

 the lion had gone back into the thicket. Upon this 

 the three officers returned to the edge of the jungle, 

 and having dismounted from their horses, they got 

 upon the elephant; Captain Woodhouse placing 

 himself in the hindermost seat. They now pro- 

 ceeded towards the heart of the jungle, in the ex- 

 pectation of rousing the royal fugitive a second 

 time. They found him standing under a large bush, 

 with his face directly towards them. The lion 

 allowed them to approach within range of his spring, 

 and then he made a sudden dart at the elephant, 

 clung on his trunk with a tremendous roar, and 

 wounded him just above the eye. While he was in 

 the act of doing this, the two lieutenants fired at 

 him, but without success. The elephant now shook 

 him off ; but the fierce and sudden attack on the 

 part of the lion seemed to have thrown him into 

 the greatest consternation. This was the first time 

 he had ever come in contact with so formidable an 

 animal; and much exertion was used before his 

 riders succeeded in urging him on again in quest of 

 the lion. At last he became somewhat more tract- 

 able ; but as he was advancing through the jungle^ 

 all of a sudden the lion, which had lain concealed in 

 the high grass, made at him with redoubled fury. 



