t of the lioness
also, Major; so we must finish our day's hunting with forcing her to
join her mate."

"Very good, with all my heart."

"Better wait till the men come with the horses, sir," said Bremen;
"three guns are too few to attack a lion--very great danger indeed."

"Bremen is right, Alexander; we must not run such a risk again. Depend
upon it, if the animal's leg had not been broken, we should not have had
so easy a conquest. Let us sit down quietly till the men come up."

In about half an hour, as Bremen had conjectured, the Hottentots,
perceiving the horses loose, and suspecting that something had happened,
went in chase of them, and as soon as they had succeeded in catching
them, brought them in the direction to which they had seen our travelers
ride. They were not a little astonished at so small a party having
ventured to attack a lion, and gladly prepared for the attack of the
lioness. Three of the dogs having accompanied them, it was decided that
they should be put into the bushes where the lioness was lying when the
Major fired at her, so as to discover where she now was; and leaving the
lion for the present, they all set off for the first jungle.

The dogs could not find the lioness in the bushes, and it was evident
that she had retreated to some other place; and Swanevelt, who was an
old lion-hunter, gave his opinion that she would be found in the
direction near to where the lion was killed. They went therefore in that
direction, and found that she was in the clump of mimosas to which the
lion had first retreated. The previous arrangement of backing the horses
toward where she lay was attempted, but the animals had been too much
frightened in the morning by the lion's attack, to be persuaded. They
reared and plunged in such a manner as to be with difficulty prevented
from breaking loose; it was therefore necessary to abandon that plan,
and trust to themselves and their numbers. The clump of trees was
surrounded by the party, and the dogs encouraged to go in, which they
did, every now and then rushing back from the paws of the lioness. The
Hottentots now fired into the clump at random, and their volleys were
answered by the loud roars of the animal, which would not, however, show
herself, and half an hour was passed away in this manner.

At last she was perceived at one side of the jungle, by Swanevelt, who
fired with effect, for the animal gave a loud roar, and then bounded
out, not attempting to r