hat you are closely attentive to the
peculiar habits of animals, and that they form a portion of your study.
Have you much knowledge of the lion? and if so, suppose you tell us
something about him."

"I have certainly studied the habits of the lion, and what I have
gathered from my own observation and the information I have received
from others, I shall be most happy to communicate. The lion undoubtedly
does not kill wantonly--of that I have had repeated instances. I
recollect one which is rather remarkable, as it showed the sagacity of
the noble brute. A man who belonged to one of the Mission stations, on
his return home from a visit to his friends, took a circuitous route to
pass by a pool of water, at which he hoped to kill an antelope. The sun
had risen to some height when he arrived there, and as he could not
perceive any game, he laid his gun down on a low shelving rock, the back
part of which was covered with some brushwood. He went down to the pool
and had a hearty drink, returned to the rock, and after smoking his
pipe, feeling weary, he lay down and fell fast asleep.

"In a short time, the excessive heat reflected from the rock awoke him,
and opening his eyes he perceived a large lion about a yard from his
feet, crouched down, with his eyes glaring on his face. For some
minutes he remained motionless with fright, expecting every moment that
he would be in the jaws of the monster; at last he recovered his
presence of mind, and casting his eye towards his gun, moved his hand
slowly towards it; upon which the lion raised up his head and gave a
tremendous roar, which induced him hastily to withdraw his hand. With
this the lion appeared satisfied, and crouched with his head between his
fore-paws as before. After a little while the man made another attempt
to possess himself of his gun. The lion raised his head and gave
another roar, and the man desisted; another and another attempt were at
intervals made, but always with the same anger shown on the part of the
lion."

"Why, the lion must have known what he wanted the gun for."

"Most certainly he did, and therefore would not allow the man to touch
it. It is to be presumed that the sagacious creature had been fired at
before; but you observe, that he did not wish to harm the man. He
appeared to say--You are in my power; you shall not go away: you shall
not take your musket to shoot me with, or I will tear you to pieces."

"It certainly was very curio