134 
THE LION. 
recounting tlieir own gallant adventures, when 
sitting in the evening along with their comrades 
round a blazing fire, or under the influence of their 
adored £ Cape smoke,’ or native brandy, might fancy 
them to be the bravest of the brave. 
££ Having skinned the lioness and cut off her head, 
we placed her trophies upon Beauty, and held for 
the camp. Before we had proceeded a hundred 
yards from the carcass, upwards of sixty vultures, 
whom the lioness had often fed, were feasting on her 
remains. 
65 We led Colesberg slowly home, where having 
washed his wounds, and carefully stitched them to¬ 
gether, I ordered the cold-water cure to be adopted. 
Under this treatment his hurts soon healed, and he 
eventually recovered.” 
Again writes Gordon Gumming, “Just as Swint 
had milked the cows, and was driving them from 
the wooded peninsula in which we lay, athwart the 
open ground, to graze with my other cattle in the 
forest beyond, he beheld four majestic lions walking 
slowly across the “ vley ” a few hundred yards 
below my camp, and disappear over the river’s 
bank, at a favourite drinking-place. These mighty 
monarchs of the waste had been holding a prolonged 
repast over the carcases of some zebras killed by 
Present, and had now come down to the river to 
slake their thirst. 
66 This being reported, I instantly saddled up two 
horses, and directing my boys to lead after me as 
quickly as possible my small remaining pack of dogs, 
I rode forth, accompanied by Carey carrying a 
