lion.

"Clever little fellow! Wake them all, and get your guns ready," said
the Major, starting on his legs; "it can't be far off; confound the
monkey, she won't let go," continued he, tearing off Begum and throwing
her away. Begum immediately scampered to the waggon and hid herself.

They had just wakened up the two Hottentots, when a roar was given so
loud and tremendous, that it appeared like thunder, and was reverberated
from the rocks opposite for some seconds.

No one but those who have been in the country, and have fallen in with
this animal in its wild and savage state, can have any idea of the
appalling effect of a lion's roar. What is heard in a menagerie is
weak, and can give but a faint conception of it. In the darkness of the
night, it is almost impossible to tell from what quarter the sound
proceeds; this arises from the habit which the animal has of placing his
mouth close to the ground when he roars, so that his voice rolls over
the earth, as it were like a breaker, and the sound is carried along
with all its tremendous force. It is indeed a most awful note of
preparation, and so thought Alexander, who had never heard one before.

The Caffres had wakened up at the noise, and our travellers and the
Hottentots now fired their guns off in every direction to scare away the
animal. Repeated discharges had this effect, and in the course of half
an hour everything was again quiet.

"Well," observed Alexander, "this is the first time that I ever heard
the roar of a lion in its wild state; and I can assure you that I shall
never forget it as long as I live."

"It is not the first time that I have heard it," replied the Major; "but
I must say, what with the darkness and stillness of the night, and the
reverberation, I never heard it so awful before. But you, Swinton, who
have travelled in the Namaqua-land, have, of course."

"Yes, I have, but very seldom."

"But it is rather singular that we have not heard the lion before this,
is it not?" said Alexander.

"The lion is often very near without giving you notice," replied
Swinton; "but I do not think that there are many lions in the country we
have traversed; it is too populous. On the other side of the mountains,
if we return that way, we shall find them in plenty. Wherever the
antelopes are in herds, wherever you find the wild horse, zebra, and
giraffe, you will as certainly find the lion, for he preys upon them."

"I know very well, Swinton, t