140 
THE LION. 
the distinguished Nimrod in question writes as 
follows :—- 
“ I rode directly for the spot where the beast was 
supposed to be, and drawing near to it, two savage 
lionesses sat up in the grass and growled fiercely at 
us. An unlucky belt of reeds, about sixty yards 
long and twenty broad, intervened between me and 
the lionesses, and on perceiving their danger, they 
at once dashed into this cover.” Then followed the 
most woeful cutting up and destruction among my 
best and most valuable dogs (thirty in number). The 
lionesses had it all their own way. In vain I rode 
round and round the small cover, endeavouring to 
obtain a peep of them, which would have enabled 
me to put a speedy conclusion to the murderous 
work within. The reeds were so tall and dense 
that, although the lionesses were often at bay within 
eight or ten yards of me, it was impossible to see 
them. At length one came outside the cover on the 
opposite side, when I fired a shot from the saddle. 
My horse was unsteady, nevertheless I wounded her, 
and acknowledging the shot with angry growls, she 
re-entered the reeds. 
“ A number of the dogs, which had gone after a 
herd of blue wildebeests, now returned, and, coming 
down through the long grass, started a third lioness, 
which came growling down into the cover and joined 
her comrades. This was the signal for my united 
pack to make a bold sally into the centre of the 
lion’s den, when they were savagely met by the 
three lionesses, who rushed furiously up and down, 
knocking the dogs about with just as much facility 
