CUNNING OF THE LION. 
85 
but owing to the branches of an overhanging tree, 
this they only found out by his tracks on the fol¬ 
lowing morning. After a while, however, he would 
appear to have tired of this system of reconnoiter- 
ing, and walked over to the water, where he 
couched facing the screen.” Now and then he 
would advance towards them, and then retreat; then 
he would crouch low, as if waiting to see them move, 
at times raising his head. Seeing that this manoeuvre 
did not intimidate the enemy, he had recourse to 
an extraordinary expedient. He rose suddenly, 
and whilst running hither and thither, he set 
up the most hideous noise, neither a roar nor 
a growl, but something between the two. This, 
nevertheless, availed him not, for Green and Bon- 
field bravely kept their ground; but Green admitted 
that it was very nervous work, as the brute evi¬ 
dently meant mischief. 
Again the lion returned to his ambush, repeating 
precisely his former tactics. Green would not fire 
except from the direst necessity, as he knew the report 
of his gun must necessarily frighten the elephants for 
which he was waiting, should they happen to be in 
the neighbourhood; but, at last, finding the wily 
enemy resolved to hold his ground, he determined 
attempting to oust him. 
The lion was evidently at this time couched, and 
though the reflection of the moon against the sky 
was then just perceptible, yet the darkness in the 
valley was still so great that very little more than his 
outline could be made out. However, taking as 
good an aim as the circumstance admitted, my 
