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awe as he had never felt。 Nevertheless； the king of beasts being
at a distance； and occupied； and Staines a brave man； and out of
sight； he kept his ground and watched； and by those means saw a
sight never to be forgotten。 The lion rose up； and stood in the
sun incredibly beautiful as well as terrible。 He was not the mangy
hue of the caged lion； but a skin tawny； golden； glossy as a race…
horse； and of exquisite tint that shone like pure gold in the sun；
his eye a lustrous jewel of richest hue； and his mane sublime。 He
looked towards the wood； and uttered a full roar。 This was so
tremendous that the horse shook all over as if in an ague； and
began to lather。 Staines recoiled； and his flesh crept； and the
Hottentot went under water； and did not emerge for ever so long。
After a pause； the lion roared again； and all the beasts and birds
of prey seemed to know the meaning of that terrible roar。 Till
then the place had been a solitude； but now it began to fill in the
strangest way； as if the lord of the forest could call all his
subjects together with a trumpet roar： first came two lion cubs； to
whom； in fact； the roar had been addressed。 The lion rubbed
himself several times against the eland； but did not eat a morsel；
and the cubs went in and feasted on the prey。 The lion politely
and paternally drew back； and watched the young people enjoying
themselves。
Meantime approached； on tiptoe； jackals and hyenas； but dared not
come too near。 Slate…colored vultures settled at a little
distance； but not a soul dared interfere with the cubs； they saw
the lion was acting sentinel； and they knew better than come near。
After a time； papa feared for the digestion of those brats； or else
his own mouth watered； for he came up； knocked them head over heels
with his velvet paw； and they took the gentle hint； and ran into
the wood double quick。
Then the lion began tearing away at the eland； and bolting huge
morsels greedily。 This made the rabble's mouth water。 The hyenas；
and jackals； and vultures formed a circle ludicrous to behold； and
that circle kept narrowing as the lion tore away at his prey。 They
increased in number； and at last hunger overcame prudence； the rear
rank shoved on the front； as amongst men； and a general attack
seemed imminent。
Then the lion looked up at these invaders； uttered a reproachful
growl； and went at them； patting them right and left； and knocking
them over。 He never touched a vulture； nor indeed did he kill an
animal。 He was a lion； and only killed to eat； yet he soon cleared
the place； because he knocked over a few hyenas and jackals； and
the rest； being active； tumbled over the vultures before they could
spread their heavy wings。 After this warning； they made a
respectful circle again； through which； in due course； the gorged
lion stalked into the wood。
A savage's sentiments change quickly； and the Hottentot； fearing
little from a full lion； was now giggling at Staines's side。
Staines asked him which he thought was the lord of all creatures； a
man or a lion。
〃A lion；〃 said Blacky； amazed at such a shallow question。
Staines now got up； and proposed to continue their journey。 But
Blacky was for waiting till the lion was gone to sleep after his
meal。
While they discussed the question； the lion burst out of the wood
within hearing of their voices； as his pricked…up ears showed； and
made straight for them at a distance of scarcely thirty yards。
Now； the chances are； the lion knew nothing about them； and only
came to drink at the kloof； after his meal； and perhaps lie under
the acacias： but who can think calmly； when his first lion bursts
out on him a few paces off？ Staines shouldered his rifle； took a
hasty； flurried aim； and sent a bullet at him。
If he had missed him； perhaps the report might have turned the
lion； but he wounded him； and not mortally。 Instantly the enraged
beast uttered a terrific roar； and came at him with his mane
distended with rage； his eyes glaring； his mouth open； and his
whole body dilated with fury。
At that terrible moment； Staines recovered his wits enough to see
that what little chance he had was to fire into the destroyer； not
at him。 He kneeled； and levelled at the centre of the lion's
chest； and not till he was within five yards did he fire。 Through
the smoke he saw the lion in the air above him； and rolled
shrieking into the stream and crawled like a worm under the bank；
by one motion； and there lay trembling。 A few seconds of sick
stupor passed： all was silent。 Had the lion lost him？ Was it
possible he might yet escape？
All was silent。
He listened； in agony； for the sniffing of the lion； puzzling him
out by scent。
No： all was silent。
Staines looked round； and saw a woolly head； and two saucer eyes
and open nostrils close by him。 It was the Hottentot； more dead
than alive。
Staines whispered him； 〃I think he is gone。〃
The Hottentot whispered； 〃Gone a little way to watch。 He is wise
as well as strong。〃 With this he disappeared beneath the water。
Still no sound but the screaming of the vultures； and snarling of
the hyenas and jackals over the eland。
〃Take a look；〃 said Staines。
〃Yes；〃 said Squat； 〃but not to…day。 Wait here a day or two。 Den
he forget and forgive。〃
Now Staines； having seen the lion lie down and watch the dying
eland； was a great deal impressed by this； and as he had now good
hopes of saving his life； he would not throw away a chance。 He
kept his head just above water； and never moved。
In this freezing situation they remained。
Presently there was a rustling that made both crouch。
It was followed by a croaking noise。
Christopher made himself small。
The Hottentot； on the contrary； raised his head； and ventured a
little way into the stream。
By these means he saw it was something very foul； but not terrible。
It was a large vulture that had settled on the very top of the
nearest acacia。
At this the Hottentot got bolder still； and to the great surprise
of Staines began to crawl cautiously into some rushes； and through
them up the bank。
The next moment he burst into a mixture of yelling and chirping and
singing； and other sounds so manifestly jubilant； that the vulture
flapped heavily away； and Staines emerged in turn； but very
cautiously。
Could he believe his eyes？ There lay the lion； dead as a stone； on
his back； with his four legs in the air； like wooden legs； they
were so very dead： and the valiant Squat； dancing about him； and on
him； and over him。
Staines； unable to change his sentiments so quickly； eyed even the
dead body of the royal beast with awe and wonder。 What！ had he
already laid that terrible monarch low； and with a tube made in a
London shop by men who never saw a lion spring； nor heard his awful
roar shake the air？ He stood with his heart still beating； and
said not a word。 The shallow Hottentot whipped out a large knife；
and began to skin the king of beasts。 Staines wondered he could so
profane that masterpiece of nature。 He felt more inclined to thank
God for so great a preservation； and then pass reverently on； and
leave the dead king undesecrated。