upon her. Swinton is not here to preach prudence,
and have a lion-hunt I will."

"With all my heart," replied Alexander. "Bremen, we are going to attack
the lioness."

"Yes, sir," said Bremen; "then we had better follow Cape fashion. We
will back the horses toward her, and Omrah will hold them while we will
attack her. I think one only had better fire, so we keep two guns in
reserve."

"You are right, Bremen," said Alexander. "Then you and I will reserve
our fire, and the Major shall try his rifle upon her."

With some difficulty the horses were backed toward the bush, until the
Major could again distinguish where the lioness lay, at about sixty
paces' distance. The animal appeared still occupied with the game in
front of her, watching her opportunity to spring, for her tail and
hind-quarters were toward them. The Major fired, and the animal bounded
off with a loud roar; while the antelopes flew away like the wind. The
roar of the lioness was answered by a deep growl from another part of
the bush, and immediately afterward a lion bolted out, and bounded from
the bushes across the plain, to a small mimosa grove about a quarter of
a mile off.

"What a splendid animal!" said Alexander; "look at his black mane, it
almost sweeps the ground."

"We must have him," cried the Major, jumping on his horse.

Alexander, Bremen, and Omrah did the same, and they followed the lion,
which stood at bay under the mimosas, measuring the strength of the
party, and facing them in a most noble and imposing manner. It appeared,
however, that he did not like their appearance, or was not satisfied
with his own position, for as they advanced he retreated at a slow pace,
and took up his position on the summit of a stony hill close by, the
front of which was thickly dotted with low thorn-bushes. The
thorn-bushes extended about 200 yards from where the lion stood,
disdainfully surveying the party as they approached toward him, and
appearing, with a conscious pride in his own powers, to dare them to
approach him.

They dismounted from their horses as soon as they arrived at the
thorn-bushes, and the Major fired. The rifle-ball struck the rock close
to the lion, who replied with an angry growl. The Major then took the
gun from Omrah and fired, and again the ball struck close to the
animal's feet. The lion now shook his mane, gave another angry roar; and
by the glistening of his eyes, and the impatient switching of his tail,
it was evident