133 
THE LION. 
After telling us that “ he was traversing the 
country beyond the Hart River, where the grass 
was tall and rank, and where copses of considerable 
size of thorn-trees and grey-leaved bushes were 
scattered over the landscape,” he goes on to say :— 
6£ It was a still and secluded spot! I observed 
several vultures soaring over one of the covers in 
question, within a quarter of a mile of the waggons, 
and thinking it very probable that they were 
attracted by some lion devouring his prey, I ordered 
a couple of horses to be saddled, and rode towards 
the place with one after-rider and about a dozen of 
my dogs. I was right in my conjecture; for, as I 
cantered along, I had’ the satisfaction to behold a 
majestic old black-maned lion walking parallel to me, 
and within a hundred yards. He had not yet ob¬ 
served mehe looked so dark that at the first 
glance I mistook him in the long grass for a blue 
wildebeest; next moment, however, he turned his 
large, full, imposing face to me, and I knew that it 
was he. Shouting to the dogs with all my might, I 
at once dashed towards him, followed by my after¬ 
rider at a respectful distance, carrying my rifle. 
66 The lion, as I expected, was panic-stricken, and 
took to his heels, bounding through the long 
grass at top speed. The dogs went at him in gallant 
style, I following not far behind them, and yelling 
to encourage my pack. The lion, finding we had 
the speed of him, reduced his pace to a sulky trot, 
and the dogs came up and followed barking within 
a few yards on each side of him. In half a minute 
more I had passed ahead, and halted my horse for a 
