62 
THE LION. 
first let go, the stupid brutes, as dogs often prove 
when most required, instead of going at the liou, 
rushed fiercely on one another, and fought des¬ 
perately for several minutes; after this they got his 
wind, and, going at him, disclosed to us his posi¬ 
tion. They kept up a continued barking until the 
day dawned, the lion occasionally springing after 
them and driving them in upon the kraal, The 
horrible monster lay all night within forty yards of 
us, consuming the wretched man whom he had 
chosen for his prey. He had dragged him into a 
little hollow at the back of the thick bush, beside 
which the fire was kindled, and there he remained 
until the day dawned, careless of our proximity. 
et It appeared that when the unfortunate Hendrich 
rose to drive in the ox, the lion had watched him to his 
fireside, and he had scarcely lain down when the 
brute sprang upon him and Ruyter (for both lay 
under one blanklet) with his appalling murderous 
roar, and roaring as he lay, grappled him with his 
fearful claws, and kept biting him on the breast and 
shoulder, all the while feeling for his neck; having 
got hold of which, he at once dragged him back¬ 
wards, round the bush into the dense shade. 
t£ As the lion lay upon the unfortunate man, he 
faintly cried, £ Help me, help me ! 0 God ! men, 
help me !’ After which the fearful beast got a hold 
of his neck, and then all was still, except that his 
comrades l^eard the bones of the neck crashing 
between the teeth of the lion. John Stofolus had 
lain with his back to the fire on the opposite side, 
and on hearing the lion he sprang up, and, seizing a 
