220 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XXII. 
with nerves strained to the utmost, and I said in Dutch 
6 Be ready.’ I then told another lad to fire into the 
high grass. This time there was no mistake. Almost 
with the report of the shot the lioness rushed to the 
front, and when at about twenty-five yards from us rose 
up into the air like a bird, and would have lit upon 
our very heads, had she not while in the air received 
several shots. A ball from my double rifle entered, and 
broke her shoulder-joint, and she fell short of us, but 
at our very feet; and in her agonies and struggles to 
get at us rolled over and over in the long grass, during 
which time she was dispatched by the barrels held in 
reserve. She was a glorious trophy of our sport, and the 
cheer that rose was only surpassed on that triumphant 
day when the monster elephant rolled in the dust at 
the 6 Knysna,’ a lasting glory and trophy to the cool 
bravery and nerve of His Royal Highness the Duke of 
Edinburgh. When the lioness first rushed on the 
dogs I can compare it to nothing (comparing great 
things to small) but to a cat in a room with a mouse ; 
for if you haves ever seen with what lightning speed she 
darts from one side to the other it will give you some 
idea of what took place on this occasion. 
The lioness being killed, we had to send for a 
wagon to carry her to the camp, and it took twenty 
strong men to lift her into the wagon. Poor beast! I 
was sorry for her. She was of enormous size, and very 
