I 
'238 THE LION. 
doctor fixed his eyes steadfastly on those 
of the lion, and uttered the words ‘Be¬ 
gone!’ in an authoritative tone, at the 
same time making with his hand and 
stick a gesture of dismissal. The lion re¬ 
turned him a dignified glance, and then, 
with a low growl, walked away with slow 
and majestic steps, leaving the pass clear for 
the travellers.” 
“ Don’t you think that sounds like rather 
a large story, Aunt Louisa?” asked Richard, 
somewhat incredulously. 
“ Not at all, my dear. Such things have 
happened repeatedly. The boers, or de¬ 
scendants of Dutch colonists in South 
Africa, frequently set out alone on horse¬ 
back to hunt the lion, confident in the good 
training of their horses, the excellence of 
their rifles and their own courage and un¬ 
erring skill as marksmen. One of them, 
Diedrich Muller by name, when returning 
from such an expedition, encountered a lion, 
which seemed determined not to let him 
pass without a difficulty. Diedrich at once 
dismounted, and, confident of his aim, le¬ 
velled his rifle at the forehead of the beast: 
but, at the critical moment, the horse, pulling 
