ilar exclamations, burst from every one. The uncertainty was
probably occasioned partly by the mode the animal has of sometimes
putting his mouth close to the ground when he roars, so that the voice
rolls along like a billow; partly also by the echo from a mountain-rock
which rose abruptly on the opposite bank of the river. Finding it
impossible to decide the question of direction, the party fired volleys
and threw firebrands in all directions, and this they did with such
vigour that his kingship retired without uttering another sound.

It was a grand, a royal, almost a humorous mode of breaking a spell--the
spell of unbelief in lions,--which some of the party had been under up
to that moment. They remained under it no longer!

As if to confirm and fix the impression thus made, this lion,--or
another,--gave some of the party a daylight interview. George Rennie,
McTavish, Considine, Black, and others, had gone up the river to cut
reeds in the bed of the stream. While they were busily engaged with
their sickles, up rose a majestic lion in their very midst!

"Preserve us a'!" exclaimed Black, who was nearest to him.

Jerry Goldboy turned to seize his blunderbuss. The lion leaped upon the
bank of the river, turned round and gazed upon the men.

"Let go!" exclaimed Jerry in a hoarse whisper, endeavouring to shake off
the vice-like grip that Black had laid on his arm.

"Keep quiet, man," growled Black sternly.

The rest of the party were wise enough not to interfere with the lion.
They were at that time inexperienced. To have wounded him would have
brought disaster, perhaps death, on some of them. George Rennie (who
afterwards became a celebrated lion-hunter) was emphatic in advising
caution. After gazing in quiet surprise on the intruders for a minute
or so, he turned and retired; first slowly, and then, after getting some
distance off, at a good round trot.

This was the first sight they had of the royal beast. Afterwards,
during the winter and spring, they had frequent visits from lions, but
did not suffer actual damage from them. They also, in course of time,
dared to "beard the lion in his den,"--but of that more anon.

The labour of the settlers at this time--before oxen and horses were
procured--was very severe. Of course this had the effect of weeding the
little company of some of its chaff in the shape of lazy and
discontented men. One said that he "had not been engaged to work by
day, and watch