166 
THE LION. 
away, instantly commenced blowing shrilly through 
a charmed piece of bone, which he wore on his neck¬ 
lace. I retreated to the man ; and we then knelt 
down. The lion continued his meal, tearing away 
at the buffalo, and growling at his wife and family, 
whom I found next day, by the spoor, had accom¬ 
panied him. Knowing that he would not molest me 
if I left him alone, I proposed to the native to go to 
our hole and lie down, but he would not hear of it, 
and entreated me to fire at the lion. I fired three 
different shots where I thought I saw him, but with¬ 
out any effect; he would not so much as for a mo¬ 
ment cease munching the buffalo. 
66 I then proceeded to lie down, and was soon 
asleep, the native keeping watch over our destinies. 
Some time after midnight more lions were heard 
coming on from other directions, and my old friend 
commenced roaring so loudly, that the native thought 
proper to awake me. 
“ The first old lion now wanted to drink, and 
whilst roaring terribly, held right away for my two 
unfortunate steeds, which were tethered at no great 
distance. I felt rather alarmed for their safety; 
but, trusting: that the lion had had flesh enough for 
one night, 1 lay still, and listened with an attentive 
ear. In a few minutes,, to my utter horror, I heard 
him spring upon one of the steeds with an angry 
growl, and dash him to the earth ; the steed gave a 
slight groan, and all was still; I listened to hear the 
sound of teeth, but all continued silent. 
66 Soon after this 4 Tao 5 was once more to be heard 
munching the buffalo. In a few minutes he came 
