240 
THE LION. 
“ ‘ While we were passing near the Rich 
River Gate, and while onr oxen were grazing, 
Van Wyck the colonist related to me the 
following interesting circumstance. “It is 
now,” he said, “nearly two years since, in 
the very place where we now stand, I ventured 
to take one of the most daring shots that was 
ever hazarded. My wife was seated in the 
house near the door, my children were play¬ 
ing about her, and I was without, near the 
door, busied in doing something to a wagon, 
when, though it was mid-day, an enormous 
lion appeared, came up and quietly laid 
himself down in the shade upon the very 
threshold of the door. My wife, either 
frozen with fear or aware of the danger at¬ 
tending any attempt to fly, remained mo¬ 
tionless in her place, while the children 
took refuge in her lap. The cry uttered by 
them attracted my attention, and I hastened 
towards the door; hut my astonishment may 
well be conceived when I found the en¬ 
trance to it barred in such a manner. Al¬ 
though the animal had not seen me, yet, 
unarmed as I was, escape seemed impossible. 
I glided gently, scarcely knowing what I 
meant to do, to the side of the house, up to 
