ute, and then once more raised a loud
and determined shout. As I did so he turned his head, and then uttering
a loud growl, slowly stalked away, and disappeared behind some bushes at
a little distance. I hurried to the spot he had quitted, but instead of
a human being, I saw before me an animal stretched lifeless on the
ground. On feeling the head, I discovered that it had no horns, and
then, taking one of the hoofs in my hand, I found that it was either a
zebra or quagga. To leave it there would be to ensure its being carried
off by its destroyer. I therefore set to work as well as I could in the
dark, and cut off the flesh, looking up cautiously every minute, as may
be supposed, to ascertain whether the lion was coming back to reclaim
his prey. The necessity of obtaining food only could have induced me to
run so terrible a risk, for I could scarcely suppose that the monarch of
the woods would allow me thus before his face to carry off his prize.
He did not appear, however. I supposed that, never having before
encountered a human being, he was more alarmed by my appearance than I
had been by his. Perhaps he took me for a gorilla, which the lion is
said to hold in wholesome fear.

I now hastened back to Natty. The lion must have returned and carried
off the portions I left him, for the next morning not a particle of the
zebra could I discover. Still, it was not pleasant to know that he was
in our neighbourhood. I treated the flesh of the zebra as I had done
that of the gnu, although it was not quite so palatable.

The following day we were seated at our dinner, when, looking out, I saw
a troop of zebras trotting by, stopping occasionally to feed, and then
again moving on. I remarked especially a young zebra following them at
a short distance. They passed close to the thicket in which I had seen
the lion disappear. "If the old fellow is there," I observed to Natty,
"I should not be surprised were he to rush out and seize one of them."
Scarcely had I spoken when the whole herd began frisking about, and
scampering here and there. Just then I heard a loud roar, and, as I had
been surmising might possibly occur, out dashed a grey old lion towards
the little zebra. I had instinctively seized my rifle. "You shall not
kill that pretty little beast if I can help it," I exclaimed. But the
lion seemed determined that he would do so in spite of me. In another
instant he was up to the zebra, and had struck him wit