the idea had not occurred to us before.

This plan was to get hold of the gun and reload her, then provoke the
lion in some way, so that he would renew his attempts to ascend the
tree, and, when thus near, place the muzzle of the musket close to his
head and fire the contents right into him. Even snipe-shot might do the
work, if delivered at such close quarters.

The first difficulty would be to get possession of the gun. She was
lying under the tree, upon the same side where we had climbed up, and
not three feet from the great trunk; but, though so near, it was evident
that one or other of us must descend to the ground, before we could lay
a finger upon her. Of course it would be impossible to do this without
the risk--nay, the positive certainty--of being assailed by the lion.
He lay only a dozen paces farther out, and, as already stated,
continually kept his eyes upon us. A single bound would be enough, and
there would be no chance of escaping him. How was the gun to be got at?

I have said that it was evident one or other of us would have to
descend; and, as this would be going directly to destruction, the idea
of doing so was not entertained for a moment.

Ben had fancied that he might "sling," me down after the manner of
monkeys, and that by this means we might get hold of the gun; but after
examining the branches and calculating the distance, we saw that the
height was too great, and the thing would be impossible.

Just then another idea came to our aid--an idea of Ben's conception--and
that was to make a running noose on the end of a piece of cord,
endeavour to get it round the gun, and then draw her up in the loop.
This would be a safe plan, if we could only accomplish it.

We had the cord--a sailor is rarely found wanting one. It was the same
piece upon which the vulture had dangled; for Ben had unloosed it before
pitching away his bird. It was both long enough and strong enough for
the purpose, and could not have suited better if it had been chosen at a
rope-factory. Ben knew how to make a loop, and a loop was soon made to
his liking; and then the cord was let down slowly and gently, so as not
to close the noose before it reached the ground. Guided by the adroit
hand of the sailor, the loop at length rested upon the earth, just
before the muzzle of the musket; and was then drawn slowly and smoothly
along the grass. Fortunately, the barrel did not lie close to the
surface, and the cord passed e