&XEN* 
439 
the blood on the ground, he incautiously approached 
too near to a neighbouring thicket, out of which, 
before he had time to present his musket, the 
wounded lion burst forth, and, pouncing upon the 
poor Hottentot, laid him flat on the ground with a 
single pat of his paw. The royal brute bestrode the 
Hottentot with great composure ; and, as if conscious 
of having obtained his enemy within his clutches, 
seemed determined to prolong the sweet delight of 
revelling in his revenge. According to the poor 
fellow’s statement, he pawed him just as a kitten is 
wont to play with a mouse ; and that whenever he 
attempted to stir, he was sure to receive what the 
lion might consider a gentle tap, but which, however, 
generally carried away with it a piece of flesh. Both 
his arms had been lacerated in a shocking manner by 
this lion’s play, with which he continued to amuse 
himself, and torment his vanquished enemy, for a 
considerable length of time, without the least appa- 
rent intention of speedily making a meal of him. 
The master of the Hottentot having by accident dis- 
covered the traces of blood, followed him to the scene 
of action, and, casting his eyes on the spot, saw 
with terror the critical situation of his Hottentot. 
He possessed, however, sufficient presence of mind 
to level his piece ; and, taking a cool and steady aim > 
he shot the lion dead upon the Hottentot, the skin of 
which he carried with him, as a trophy of one of the 
most fortunate hut critical shots that perhaps was 
ever made, as, had he missed his aim, his own fate 
was involved in that of the Hottentot. 
The following anecdotes of their qualities in the 
African desert are delivered on the authority of 
Yaiilant. 
A heavy fall of rain, which happily took place 
