DARING OF THE LION* 
65 
cc On the night of our third day’s journey in 
the country of the Balalas,” writes the worthy 
Missionary, “ we halted at a pool (hholchale ), and 
listened on the lonely plain for the sounds of an 
inhabitant, but could discover no light, and, amid 
the darkness, were unable to trace footsteps to the 
water. We let loose the wearied oxen to drink and 
graze; but as we were ignorant of the character of 
the company with which we might have to spend 
the night, we took a fire-brand, and examined the 
edges of the pool, to see, from the imprints, what 
animals were in the habit of drinking there, and 
with terror discovered many ‘spoors ’ of lions. 
We immediately collected the oxen, and brought 
them to the waggon, to which we fastened them 
with the strongest thongs we had, having discovered 
in their appearance something which indicated 
that, either from scent or sight, they knew danger 
was near. The two Barolongs had brought a young 
cow with them, and though I recommended their 
making her fast also, they very humorously replied 
c that she was too wise to leave the waggons and 
oxen, even though a lion should be scented.’ We 
took a little supper, which was followed by our even¬ 
ing hymn and prayer. I retired only a few minutes 
to my waggon to prepare for the night, when the 
whole of the oxen started to their feet. A lion had 
seized the cow in question only a few steps from 
their tails, and dragged it to the distance of thirty 
or forty paces, where we distinctly heard it tearing 
the animal and breaking its bones, whilst its bellow- 
ings were most pitiful. When these were over, I 
F 
