192 
EMBLEM OF TRUE COURAGE. 
10—12 May, 
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 ; though I had hoped, 
in a few minutes to have been enabled to take hold of his paw without 
danger. 
This was considered by our party to be a lion of the largest size, 
and seemed, as I measured him by comparison with the dogs, to be, 
though less bulky, as large as an ox. He was certainly as long in 
body, though lower in stature ; and his copious mane gave him a 
truly formidable appearance. He was of that variety which the 
Hottentots and boors distinguish by the name of the black lion, on 
account of the blacker colour of the mane, and which is said to be 
always larger and more dangerous than the other which they call the 
pale lion, (vaal leeuw.) Of the courage of a 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. 
At the time when men first adopted the lion as the emblem of 
courage, it would seem that they regarded great size and strength as 
indicating it ; but they were greatly mistaken in the character they 
have given to this indolent skulking animal, and have overlooked a 
much better example of true courage, and of other virtues also, in the 
bold and faithful dog. 
As its skin could not have been brought away, all our oxen being 
already overloaded, 1 did not think it worth while to pursue the beast 
till we had killed itj and judged it much wiser not to run the risk 
