sprang upon the foremost, crushing him to the ground. His terrified com¬ 
rades, throwing away the chance of shooting the brute while it was still upon 
its first victim and its eyes probably closed, rushed to the nearest trees for 
safety, but, once there, feeling ashamed of their cowardly desertion of an 
old companion, they descended, and walking forward together were just on 
the point of firing, when, with a roar that almost deprived them of the power 
to run, the lion charged, caught the hindmost, and after shaking him for a 
THE STORY OF THE LION. 77 
That lions, especially when hungry, will, however, on occasion attack 
human beings,—on foot or when mounted,—there is abundant evidence. A 
hunter engaged in stalking a rhinosceros, on looking back was horrified 
to find that he himself was being stalked by a lion. There was but one time 
in my career when a lion, driven by hunger, attacked me personally; but I 
believe that there are some lions which will always make unprovoked attacks. 
This view is supported by an account of an attack made upon three natives in 
Eastern Africa. The three natives in question were passing along the edge of 
a certain lagoon, when, without further warning than a slight rustle, a lion 
THE KING OF BEASTS DRINKING AT A POOL. 
