THE FELINE AND CANINE TRIBES. 119 
in a better position for attack, he would just get to 
the point from which the lieutenant had fired, and 
to which the lion was making ; wherefore he in- 
stantly resolved to stand still, in the hopes that the 
lion would pass by, at a distance of four yards or so, 
without perceiving him, as the intervening cover 
was thick and strong. In this, however, he was 
most unfortunately deceived ; for the enraged lion 
saw him in passing, and flew at him with a dreadful 
roar. In an instant, as though it had been done by 
a stroke of lightning, the rifle was broken and 
thrown out of the captain's hand, his left arm at the 
same moment being seized by the claws, and his 
right by the teeth, of his desperate antagonist. 
While these two brave and sturdy combatants, 
" whose courage none could stain," were yet stand- 
ing in mortal conflict, Lieutenant Delamain ran up, 
and discharged his piece full at the lion. This 
caused the lion and the captain to come to the 
ground together, while Lieutenant Delamain has- 
tened out of the jungle to reload his gun. The 
lion now began to craunch the captain's arm ; but as 
the brave fellow, notwithstanding the pain which 
this horrid process caused, had the cool determined 
resolution to lie still, the lordly savage let the arm 
drop out of his mouth, and quietly placed himself in 
a couching position, with both his paws upon the 
thigh of his fallen foe. While things were in this 
untoward situation, the captain unthinkingly raised 
his hand to support his head, which had got placed 
ill at ease in the fall. No sooner, however, had he 
moved it, than the lion seized the lacerated arm a 
I 4 
