CHAP. VIII. 
MY FIEST LION-HUNT. 
51 
this time those who had fired were rapidly re-loading; 
and it is well that this was done, for without any 
further provocation the second male lion, a large 
brindled one, with a short, upright mane, at once 
turned and came on to attack us. The horses- were 
much frightened, and kept turning about, but we were 
too intent watching the lion to prevent it. This time 
old Dederick turned to me and said, 4 Englishman, 
it is your turn to fire first.’ I thereupon stepped three 
paces to the front and stood waiting for the noble brute. 
I allowed him to come rather nearer, and he was about 
forty yards distant when I fired; and I should possibly 
have allowed him to take another short spring first had 
it not been that the Dutchman kept saying, 6 Schiet! 
Schiet! Allemagtig Engelschman, Schiet.’ They were 
not, however, disappointed; my ball entered the front 
joint of the shoulder and passed out on the opposite 
flank, and the brute rolled over at once; but although 
the bone was broken high up the lion was up again in 
a moment on his three legs, and came on bounding as if 
nothing had happened. My friend Crause fired another 
ball into the lion’s head, and several other bullets 
passed through its body. By this time the remaining 
lions were near the foot of the mountain, but two of 
the cubs were to the right of the others. We at once 
mounted our horses and cut them off from the bush and 
rocks at the foot of the hill, and before they could get 
