remained still during all this time, perceiving that the
lion was licking the blood which flowed from the wound in Big Adam's
leg, thought that he might as well try another roll over, and being on
his back, he turned over on his face away from the lion. Thereupon the
lion rose from off Big Adam, walked up to Omrah, and, to the horror of
our travelers, took up the boy by his waistcloth, and, carrying him like
a small bundle in his mouth, went back to Big Adam, and laying Omrah
close down to the Hottentot's head, again took up his position on his
body; now, however, with his paws upon the Hottentot's breast, so that
he might keep Omrah in view before him. Little Omrah had sense enough
not to move during the time that the lion carried him, or after he was
laid down.

The change in the position of the lion occasioned our travelers and the
party to walk round, so as to be able to watch the countenance of the
animal, as every thing depended upon the temper he might be in. The
Major and Alexander became very impatient, and were for advancing to the
attack, but Swinton persuaded them not to do so until the last moment.

The lion now put its fore-paw upon the Hottentot's mouth, and again
stopped his breath; this occasioned another struggle on the part of Big
Adam, which was followed by the animal seizing him by the arm and biting
him severely; but in so doing the lion removed its paw, and the man
could breathe again. The taste of blood appeared pleasant to the lion,
for it continued biting the arm, descending from the shoulder to the
hand, and as the blood flowed from the wounds on its paws, the lion
licked it off. Again and again it licked its paw clean, and then, with
its glaring eyes fixed intently upon the Hottentot's face, it smelt him
first on one side and then on the other, and appeared only to be waiting
for a return of appetite to commence a deliberate meal upon the poor
fellow's body.

In the mean time our travelers were standing about seventy yards
distant, waiting for the signal to attack, when Bremen observed to
Swinton--

"He won't wait much longer, sir; the blood has given him an appetite. We
must now drive him away, or they will both be killed."

"I think so too," replied Swinton; "let us first try if we can disturb
him without making him angry; that will be the best way. We must go back
out of springing distance, and then all shout together, and keep
hallooing at him."

This advice was followed; they ret