ii6 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



their reach. For some time we had lived in constant 

 fear of an old lioness who had carried off and devoured 

 several of our folk when they had gone down to drink or 

 wash their faces and their babies in the stream. Our clan 

 was a powerful one, for there were a score of great long- 

 teethed warriors amongst us. Knowing the lioness was 

 about, we were careful never to venture out until our scouts 

 had reported all was safe. Then we would go forth in a 

 body. One day we were out upon the veld rooting up bulbs 

 and other foods, when our three sentries, almost in chorus, 

 sounded the danger signal. By the nature of the sound we 

 knew they meant us to understand the enemy was a very 

 dangerous one. They had evidently seen the beast trying 

 to stalk us through the long grass. Our chief commanded 

 us to instantly close our ranks. As we were rushing together 

 the lioness, with a terrifying roar, leapt right in the midst 

 of us. I don't think she reckoned on there being so many 

 of us. Perhaps she was confident we would be paralysed 

 with fear. So we were for a few moments, but hearing 

 the agonising shrieks and moans of one of our womenfolk 

 and her baby, all fear vanished, we lost thought for in- 

 dividual safety, and with a rush we were upon the lioness, 

 or at least as many of us as could reach her. Although 

 taken completely by surprise, she fought furiously. Throw- 

 ing herself upon her back she tore out the bowels of three of 

 our folk, and bit the necks of two more so that they died 

 instantly. However, our old grizzled warriors soon got 

 to work in deadly earnest, and ripped up the lioness with 

 their long sharp-edged canine teeth, until she was one mass 

 of horrible gashes through which her bowels and other 

 parts protruded. Seizing our dead and wounded, we 

 retreated, and left her to die. Five of my people were 

 killed in the fight. One died next day, and about a dozen 

 more were badly scratched or bitten. 



