The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 1, December, 1850Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 1, December, 1850
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
themselves almost invisible; at last the boldest of them came up
crouching on his belly to within ten paces of me and fifteen of the
Arab. His eye was fixed on the latter, and with such an expression that
I was afraid I had waited too long. The second, who had stayed a few
paces behind, came and placed himself on a level with and about four or
five paces from the first. I then saw for the first time that they were
full-grown lionesses. I took aim at the first, and she came rolling and
roaring down to the foot of the tree. The Arab was scarcely awakened
when a second ball stretched the animal dead upon the spot. The first
bullet went in at the muzzle and came out at the tail; the second had
gone through the heart. After making sure that my men were all right, I
looked out for the second lioness. She was standing up within fifteen
paces, looking at what was going on around her. I took my gun and
leveled it at her. She squatted down. When I fired she fell down
roaring, and disappeared in a field of maize on the edge of the road. On
approaching I found by her moaning that she was still alive, and did not
venture at night into the thick plantation which sheltered her. As soon
as it was day I went to the spot where she had fallen, and all I found
were bloodmarks showing her track in the direction of the wood. After
sending the dead lioness to the neighboring garrison, who celebrated its
arrival by a banquet, I returned to my post of the previous night. A
little after sunset the lion roared for the first time, but instead of
quitting his lair he remained there all night, roaring like a madman.
Convinced that the wounded lioness was there, I sent on the morning of
the 24th two Arabs to explore the cover. They returned without daring to
approach it. On the night of the 24th there was the same roaring and
complaining of the lion on the mountain and under cover. On the 25th, at
five in the evening, I had a young goat muzzled, and proceeded with it
to the mountain. The lair was exceedingly difficult of access.
Nevertheless I succeeded at last by crawling now on my hands and now on
my belly in reaching it. Having discovered certain indications of the
presence of the inhabitants of this locality, I had the goat unmuzzled
and tied to a tree. Then followed the most comical panic on the part of
the Arabs, who were carrying my arms. Seeing themselves in the middle of
the lion's lair, whom they could distinctly smell, and hearing the
horrified goat calling them with all its might, was a position perfectly
intolerable to them. After consulting together as to whether it were
better to climb up a tree or clamber on a rock, they asked my permission
to remain near the goat. This confidence pleased me and obtained them
the privilege of a place by my side. I had not been there a quarter of
an hour when the lioness appeared; she found herself suddenly beside the
goat, and looked about her with an air of astonishment. I fired, and she
fell without a struggle.
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