IX 
THE LION 
311 
two men, but remained crouched upon the bare 
ground, neither grass nor leaves at that dry season 
existing to form a cover for retreat. 
Florian advanced boldly to within about 20 
yards, the lion merely regarding him with sleepy 
astonishment, until he took aim and fired. He 
missed! The lion instantly assumed an attitude 
ready for a spring. Florian aimed between the eyes, 
and again fired. He missed again ! The response 
was immediate : the lion gave a roar, and bounded 
forward ; with a terrific blow upon the head it felled 
the unfortunate Florian to the ground, and seized 
him by the neck. Almost at the same moment 
the faithful Tokroori rushed forward to assist his 
master, and, afraid to fire lest he should hit him by 
mistake during the confusion of the struggle, he 
actually pushed the muzzle of the rifle into the lion’s 
ear and pulled the trigger. The lion fell dead upon 
the lifeless body of Florian. 
Dr. Ori, an Italian in the service of the Egyptian 
Government, was at that time purchasing wild 
animals of the Hamran Arab sword-hunters, and was 
in camp within a half-hour’s march. The Tokroori 
brought the tragic news, and a party started for the 
fatal spot. Dr. Ori subsequently described to me 
the effect of the lion’s blow. The skull, which had 
received its full force, was completely shattered, as 
if it had been a cocoa-nut struck with a hammer, 
and several of the lion’s claws had penetrated 
through the bone, as though they had been driven 
like a nail. 
