ENCOUNTER WITH A LIONESS. 
131 
came up wflth her. She was a full-grown beast, and 
the bare and level nature of the plain added to her 
imposing appearance. Finding that I gained upon 
her, she reduced her pace from a canter to a trot, 
carrying her tail stuck out behind her, and slewed 
a little to one side. I shouted loudly to her to halt, 
as I wished to speak with her, upon which she 
suddenly pulled up, and sat on her haunches like a 
dog, with her back towards me, not even deigning 
to look round. She then appeared to say to her¬ 
self, e Does this fellow know whom he is after ? 5 
Having thus sat for half a minute, as if involved in 
thought, she sprang to her feet, and, facing about, 
stood looking at me for a few seconds, moving her 
tail slowly from side to side, showing her teeth, and 
growling fiercely. She next made a short run for¬ 
ward, making a loud rumbling noise like thunder. 
This she did to intimidate me ; but, finding that I 
did not flinch an inch, nor seem to heed her hostile 
demonstrations, she quietly stretched out her mass¬ 
ive arms, and lay down on the grass. My Hotten¬ 
tots now coming up, we all three dismounted, and 
drawing our rifles from their holsters, we looked to 
see if the powder was in the nipples, and put on our 
caps. While this was doing the lioness sat up, 
and showed evident symptoms of uneasiness. She 
looked first at us, and then behind her, as if to see 
if the coast was clear; after which she made a 
short run towards us, uttering her deep-drawn 
murderous growl. Having secured the three horses 
to one another by their rheims, we led them on as if 
we intended to pass her, in the hope of obtaining a 
k 2 
