It took some time to kill the brute, whose large beautiful eyes glared like balls of fire in its huge head under the shaggy mane; but we succeeded at last, and, descending, soon stripped off the hide, then leaving the carcase for the hyenas and jackals, as the Kaffirs do not care for the flesh when they can get anything else, it being very hard, we continued our road to the kraal, bearing our unexpected trophy with us. Now having just touched upon the landmarks of my history during the six months, I will take up the thread of the story in the next chapter, and in a few succeeding ones will show how I at last came across my old friends, and finally started for the white settlements. CHAPTER FIFTEEN. A LION HUNT--THE WAR PARTY--WE HUNT THE KOODOO. One evening, the news ran round the kraal that Metilulu, perhaps being in want of a lion skin, had issued his royal orders that a hunt of that animal should take place on the morrow, at which--hearing it was conducted differently to that of other beasts--I determined to be present, rather against Tugela's desire, for he assured me it was sometimes a most dangerous affair, and seldom took place without one or two hunters being severely wounded, if not killed. Yet for all this I resolved to make one of the party, telling Tugela that I did not dream of joining the hunters, except as a spectator. So the next morning I was up betimes, and ready to set out with the Kaffirs, whom I found carried, beside their usual weapons, an assagai having a bunch of feathers at the top, the purpose of which I could not divine, but patiently waited, as I often had had to do previously, for time to show. I was now, as may be imagined, very familiar with all the tribe, and, by being able to make myself just understood, could join them in any affair, though Tugela was not present, as at this hunt. After our assembling we soon set off, and proceeded in so straight a direction that I supposed the lair of a lion had already been ascertained, which surmise proved correct, for we had not gone a very great distance before we came in sight of the king of the desert, alone and majestic, having by his side the bare bones of an eland, the flesh of which animal had just served to stay his royal hunger. On perceiving him the Kaffirs, with the greatest caution, separated, and placed themselves so as entirely to surround the place where he stood, then at the same time disclosed themselves to his view. It is the nature of these animals never to attack a body of men unless urged by extreme hunger, but usually to retreat before them, thinking, like some two-legged animals, that discretion is the better part of valour.