before me. This I did not think much of,
though I had to pass a place called Lions' Fountain, where lions were
usually seen, and if they were not seen, their footprints always were,
showing that they lived in the neighbourhood. I rode on, however, and
as it got darker I rode quicker; but before long I found the old horse
was knocked up, and could not go beyond a walk. I knew my father was
fond of the old horse, so I determined to dismount and lead him. I did
so, and walked slowly enough, for the horse would not hurry himself.
Presently I found him snorting as from fear, and getting quite lively,
for which I could not account at first; but noting that the old horse
kept turning his head as though looking at something, I strained my eyes
to see what it was. I was, as I said, young at the time, and so you may
not be surprised when I tell you my heart beat quickly when I saw, not a
single lion, for that, I think, I might have felt a match for, but no
less than four lions trotting along about sixty yards from the side of
the waggon-track I was following. I could scarcely believe my eyes at
first, but the night was clear and starlight, and there was light enough
for me to see that. What was most strange, too, was that one lion
seemed to be afraid that the others should take his prey away from him,
for every now and then he would turn on them, and with a smothered growl
rush at them, sending them scampering away like cur dogs; then he would
trot up again within forty yards, and go along in the same direction.
This he did once or twice, till I began to think he was taking care of
me, and didn't mean to eat me or the horse. I was armed with only a
single-barrelled gun, and that not a very large bore; so I did not feel
at all a match for four lions, and began to try and remember some
prayers I had heard might help one at a pinch like this; but I couldn't
well call to mind any thing suitable, and was beginning to think I had
better leave the old horse and run for it, when the big lion, having
driven off the others to some distance, came up within thirty yards of
me, and right in my path. If I led the horse on, I should be nearest
the lion, and I believed he would kill me first, and the horse
afterwards. I hesitated what to do, and had I been more experienced, I
believe I should not have done what I did; for a wounded lion is a
terrible creature, even worse than a hungry one. However, I determined
to fire at him. Aiming a