THE DEATH-GRAPPLE. 
77 
and aware that the least motion on his part would 
insure his instant destruction, stood stock still, and 
looked full in the face of the beast, on wffiich the 
latter, unable to withstand his gaze, closed his own 
eyes, though still bolding him fast with his fangs, 
but without biting him severely. As they stood in 
position for some moments, Gert beckoned to his 
companion to approach and shoot the lion in the 
forehead, which he might easily have done, as 
the animal still kept his eyes fast closed; but the 
poltroon, instead of coming to the aid of his friend, 
retreated to the top of a neighbouring rock. 
Had Gert remained quiet for a few moments, 
the lion, the hunters affirm, would have released 
his hold and left him uninjured; but he lost 
patience, and seeing himself abandoned, drew his 
knife, and with his whole force plunged it into the 
animal’s breast. The thrust was a deadly one; but 
the enraged lion now strove to grapple with him; 
the hunter, who was a powerful man, used his 
utmost efforts to keep it at arm’s length, but the 
beast, in its dying agonies, so dreadfully lacerated 
his breast and arms as to lay the bones bare. At 
length they fell together; when Gert’s cowardly 
comrade took courage to advance, and succeeded 
in carrying his mangled friend to the nearest habi¬ 
tation, where he expired of lockjaw on the third 
day. 
Moffatt, however, I would remark in parenthesis, 
who probably knows more about the lion and its 
habits than almost anyone else, does not seem to 
have much faith in the popular belief as to the lion 
