LIONS AGAIN. 
49 
me a mount on Arab, and we found them well, 
with the exception of Maclean. Their affairs looked 
rather badly on the whole: eight oxen had died, 
several more were very ill, two dogs had been 
carried off by tigers, there was no game, and con¬ 
sequently not much to eat, and they were out of 
coffee and sugar. We got six blankets, some 
brass wire, and black calico, and returned to 
camp. 
I had the remains of the ox dragged to the best 
spot for getting a shot, if the lions should pay us 
another visit. They did not keep us waiting long. 
In less than an hour after dark they came, and 
immediately began their meal. The night was very 
dark, and we had nothing but their own growls to 
guide us in shooting. We three blazed away in 
succession for a long time. The ox was placed just 
in front of the wagon, about twenty-five yards off, 
but they dragged it away considerably farther. 
Crafty must have had some narrow escapes, for she 
would not come in, but kept up an incessant row all 
the time; and, encouraged by the firing, came to 
very close quarters with them several times. They 
charged her frequently and savagely, but she showed 
great pluck. I saw one lion tolerably distinctly 
once, and fired, when for the first time he uttered a 
fierce roar, and charged at the wagon. We had, 
however, a strong fence between the wagon and 
them, and when the lion lay down about seven yards 
off for a long time, I felt sure he was wounded. He 
