FORTUNATE FORBEARANCE. 
123 
conscious pride upon the bands of his assailants, 
and with a port the most noble and imposing that 
can be conceived. It was the most magnificent 
sight I ever witnessed. The danger of our friends, 
however, rendered it at the moment too terrible to 
enjoy either the grand or the ludicrous part of the 
picture. We expected, every moment, to see one 
or more of them torn in pieces; nor, though the 
rest of the party were standing within fifty paces, 
with their guns cocked and levelled, durst we fire 
for their assistance. One was lying under the lion’s 
feet, and the other scrambling towards us in such a 
way as to intercept our aim upon him. All this 
passed far more rapidly than I have described 
it; but, luckily, the lion, after steadily surveying us 
for a few seconds, seemed willing to be quit of us on 
fair terms; and, with a fortunate forbearance, turned 
calmly away; and, driving the snarling dogs like 
rats from his heels, bounded over the adjoining 
thicket like a cat over a footstool, clearing bushes 
twelve or fifteen feet high, as readily as if they had 
been tufts of grass; and, abandoning the jungle, 
retreated towards the mountains. 
“ After ascertaining the state of our rescued com¬ 
rade, who fortunately had sustained no other injury 
than a slight scratch on the back, and a severe bruise 
on the ribs, from the force with which the animal 
had dashed him to the ground, we renewed the 
chase, with Hottentots and hounds in full cry. 
In a short time we again came up with the 
enemy, and found him standing at bay under an 
old mimosa tree, by the side of a mountain stream 
