THE CHARGE OF THE LION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 55

THE CHARGE OF THE LION.

(Extract from a narrative by H. SetonKakb, in the Boyal Magazine.) After we had gone 15 miles, winding in and out among the mimosa bushes, the two horsemen pointed overhead to the blazing zone, and I saw hundreds of vultores flying at an immense altitude. Dismounting and advancing alone on foot with my rifle, I soon caught sight of the dead camel. The lion was crouching behind it, and appeared almost exactly of the same colour as bis prey. I was within 80 or 90 yards wben the lion, sprang 'out towards me and remained for some moments motionless in a defiant attitude, his lore-paws ex-

tended,-his head near the ground, but hid back arched. Supposing he might be-comi ing for -me -I reserved my fire-r-besides, -the", distance was too great for an absolutely: certain shot — so that I might give him myi two barrels at close quarters as he was, charging down at me. "After that I fcnewiI must trust to luck, as I had no second rifle or gun-bearer/and should have no timo to reload.

•After we had thus regarded one another for some seconds, the lion turned slowly v and lumbered heavily away. I was -sorry/ 1 since he had .not , charged, that. I had 'noli' 'fired, and sent* a bullet screaming after him through the 'bushes, as better .-late than never.- I was soon in the- saddle cand away upon his tracks at a gallop, accompanied by the mounted guides. The lion soon stoppea under a small mimosa bush, crouching and glaring at us Avith waving tail as we rode round. I then approached on foot. ' The brute was now swaying his tail "and ' body from side to side with much energy, and clearly upon the point of charging down to kill me. •• ,

As I' walked round to get a flank shot into .his shoulder the lion moved so as to ■ face 'me, keeping his body invisible, "and rendering a chance shot very hazardous," the brain being the only vital part to aim for. ' If one of the horsemen "had only ventured near, or if the lion's attention could have ' been distracted for a moment towards" another foe. he might have turned and given' me my opportunity of fatally, crippling him. The only. issue was now the death "of ' the lion, or of myself, or both. Which' ifc was to be depended on the accuracy of my aim and the coolness of hand and eye. Every instant the beast, like a huge cat after a bird, was working himself up for the inevitable charge, lashing 1 his gi'eafc flanks with his tail. I remember wondering at that supreme moment whether ihe popular superstition that on the end of his tail a lion has a claw or sharp goinb wherewith to goad himself on to the attack could have any ground-work of fact. I now gave up all hope of an easy shot, and feeling that further delay wa's impossible, as he might deliver his charge at any moment, I sat down, and, resting my elbows on my knees, fired twice at his head through, the bush at a distance of about sixty yards. These shots failed to "kill, and, uttering hoarse growls, tie lion edged round the bush, facing - me and- keeping low upon the ground. I reloaded quickly and, standing upright so as' to' clear the grass, fired' my right barrel downwards an his head. Tiie lion .immediately Hose to ".his feel, and . charged down 1 trpon me at" full speed, running swift and low. Only my left barrel remained, and, covering his chest; with the sights of the. rifle as he neared me, I pulled the trigger when he was a, few yards distant. Exactly what' the lion did no man ; will ever > know, unless -' the natives saw. As I stepped hastily to one , Bide, reloading,: I was struck-by* sh'otyer of stones, and half blinded, by a "cloud. 'of sand unddustl The lion must have passed close by me, and' swung abruptly round under cover of the smoke. When the dust cleared away I saw the lion under the bash again — the same old bush. He had delivered his charger, and it had failed. It was a sick .and sorry, beast, and evidently disconcerted and wounded unto death. I now had an easy sida shot into his shoulder, and quickly put two bullets through his heart. I had seen one of the grandest sights of Africa — the charge upon oneself of the wild African lion, practically carried horne — a charge that fe\m have sustained and yet come off unharmed. One can have too much of a good thing, and the sight is not one that I should desire to see frequently.