50 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. VIII. 
after-riders, while we formed up between the lions and 
horses, the Dutchmen telling us that if the lion charged 
us and we did not kill him we were to retire through 
or between the horses, whereupon the lion would spring 
on a horse. When we were all ready he directed a 
young Dutchman, a nephew of his, named Streydom, 
to fire a shot, not at but to the left of the left-hand 
male lion. The ball struck the ground about forty 
yards from the noble beast and raised the dust. The 
lion made one spring at the spot, and was seen 
clutching the air in the utmost rage ; but without one 
moment’s delay he turned on us, and, lashing the air 
with his tail, came towards us, alternately making short 
springs and crouching. We stood with our rifles ready 
and the finger almost on the trigger. The 6 captain ’ 
told another young Dutchman to take aim end fire at 
his own time, while we all stood in reserve. This young 
farmer immediately sat down, and, with his elbows rest¬ 
ing on his knees, waited till the lion was within about 
sixty yards, when he pulled trigger and the ball entered 
one of the brave beast’s eyes. The lion bounded into 
the air, making a spring to the front, and then a second 
one, which brought him to our very feet, where he was 
despatched by several shots. The lion’s face was 
perfectly covered with the brains that oozed out of the 
bullet-hole ; and the other eye was so covered that I 
attribute our safety partly to that circumstance. During 
