96 
THE LION. 
shelter of the intervening ground, they suddenly 
tossed their heads, switched their tails, scraped 
the earth impatiently with their hoofs, and sniffed 
the air. I was puzzled how to account for this un¬ 
usual agitation, as, from my position, I was certain 
they could not have discovered me. But I had not 
much time for conjecture; for the next instant I 
was startled by the growl of some animal close to 
me. On looking in the direction whence it pro¬ 
ceeded, I discovered, to my utter astonishment, two 
lions and a lioness on the rising ground just above 
me; and, as it seemed, they also were on the look¬ 
out for the gnoos. I instinctively levelled my piece 
at the head of the nearest of the beasts ; but a 
moment’s reflection convinced me that the odds 
were too great, and I, therefore, thought it best 
to reserve my fire, so as to be in readiness to receive 
them, should they charge. After having regarded 
me for a few seconds, however, they growlingly 
disappeared behind a sandhill. 
“ By this time, the gnoos had become 1 aware of 
the lions, and were making off at the top of their 
speed. Being anxious to obtain a shot at them, I 
followed on their tracks ; but soon found, to my 
dismay, that my three royal friends, with jaws dis. 
tended, and uttering furious growls, were following 
a course parallel to mine. Though I must confess 
I did not at all like their looks, as only excessive 
hunger could have induced them, in broad day, to 
seek for victims, I nevertheless continued to follow 
the tracks of the antelopes until they led me into the 
bush, where I presently lost them, as well as myself. 
