asily underneath it; but Ben was not
satisfied until he had worked his loop nearly to the middle of both
barrel and stock, and quite over one of the swivels. He then tightened
the noose by a jerk--such only as a sailor could give--and the taut cord
showed it was fast and secured. In another half-minute my companion
held "Queen Anne" in his grasp!

It was but the work of a few minutes to load her, but this was done with
caution, as we feared to drop either the ammunition or the ramrod. Of
course, had we lost either of these, the piece would have become
useless. During all these proceedings, our antagonist had not remained
silent. As he saw the musket ascending so mysteriously into the tree,
he seemed to fancy that some conspiracy was meditated against him, and
he had risen to his all-fours, and set up a loud growling.

Ben had now finished loading, and only waited for the lion to approach
the tree; but the brute showed no signs of coming nearer. He continued
to growl and lash his tail angrily, but kept his ground.

Perhaps a shot from the pistol might tempt him nearer; and my companion
directed me to fire. I did so, aiming at the lion. Like enough the
shot only tickled him; but it partially produced the desired effect;
for, on receiving it, he made one bound forward and then stopped again--
still continuing to roar, and strike his sides with his long, tufted
tail.

He was now within less than ten paces of the muzzle of the piece, and he
was not going nearer at that time. This was evident; for, after
remaining awhile upon all-fours, he squatted down upon his hips just
like a cat. His broad breast was right towards us, and presented a most
lurking mark to aim at.

Ben was sorely tempted to level and pull trigger; but, still fearing
that even at that close distance the snipe-shot would scatter and do no
hurt, he held back.

He had directed me to reload the pistol and fire again, and I was busy
in doing so, when, all at once, my companion whispered me to desist. I
looked at him to see what he wanted. I saw that some new purpose was in
his mind. I saw him cautiously draw the huge iron ramrod from the
thimbles, and then twisting a piece of oakum round its head, insert it
into the barrel, where the oakum held it fast. I next saw him lower the
barrel, and lay the butt to his shoulder. I saw him take aim, and soon
after came the loud bang and the cloud of smoke, which filled the whole
top of the tree, hiding