UNEXPECTED ATTACK. 
185 
unsuccessfully searched the jungle, Laing and myself 
mounted the elephant, that we might investigate 
certain thick patches which—whilst on foot—we had 
been unable properly to explore, for the cunning 
animal would go anywhere freely, excepting, as just 
said, the places where she was aware the lion was 
crouched. 
“ Whilst thus occupied, Woodhouse, who was on 
foot, and about fifty yards from us, discovered 
our foe a short way off in a bush, and immediately 
opened his battery. Having three guns, he fired 
three or four shots, each of which, as before, was 
greeted with a grunt; but the animal evinced no 
disposition to act on the offensive. 
“ Woodhouse then exclaimed, ‘ D—— the brute, 
he must be done up now ! I shall walk into him. 5 
“ I said, c Don’t trust him, for you see he 
disregards all shot! better let me come. 5 So 
saying I left the elephant and joined him, taking 
my double-barrelled rifle in my hand. Woodhouse 
pointed out the lion to me; 1 saw the yellow object 
lying in the bush, but he was too much obscured 
for us to discover his plight, or to see any par¬ 
ticular part where we might hope to strike him 
vitally. 
<c After a few words with Woodhouse as to the 
probability of the lion being forthcoming, I said, 
6 I’ll fire one of my barrels and ascertain the point. 5 
I did so accordingly, when to my surprise and 
dismay he rushed forth as fresh as when we first- 
viewed him and came directly upon us-—it was the 
business of a moment. There was a little bush just 
