BRINGING LIONS TO BAY. 
135 
spare gun, to give battle to the four grim lions. 
As I rode out of the peninsula, they showed them¬ 
selves on the bank of the river, and, guessing that 
their first move would be a disgraceful flight, I 
determined to ride so as to make them think that I 
had not observed them, until 1 should be able to cut 
off their retreat from the river, across the open vley, 
to the endless forest beyond. That point being 
gained, I knew that they, still doubtful of my having 
observed them, would hold their ground on the 
river’s bank until the dogs came up, when I could 
more advantageously make the attack. 
cc I cantered along, holding as if I meant to pass 
the lions at a distance of a quarter of a mile, until 
I was opposite to them, when I altered my course, 
and inclined a little nearer. The lions then showed 
symptoms of uneasiness; they rose to their feet, 
and overhauling us for half a minute, disappeared 
over the bank. They reappeared, however, directly 
a little further down ; and finding that their present 
position was bare, they walked majestically along the 
top of the bank to a spot a few hundred yards lower, 
where it was well wooded. Here thev seemed half 
d 
inclined to await my attack; two stretched out 
their massive arms and lay down in the grass, and 
the other two sat up like dogs on their haunches. 
Deeming it probable that when my dogs came up 
and I approached, they would still retreat and make a 
bolt across the open vley, I directed Carey to canter 
forward and take up the ground in the centre of the 
vley about four hundred yards in advance, whereby 
the lions would be compelled either to give us battle 
