and slowly edged in closer and closer, so that the lions might be
completely surrounded.

"Presently one of the natives spied a lion sitting on a piece of rock,
and fired at him, the ball missing the beast and striking the rock.

"The lion turned, bit like a dog at the spot where the bullet had
struck, and then bounded off to the shelter of the brushwood.

"Soon I saw another lion in much the same situation as the former, and,
being not more than thirty yards from it, let fly with both barrels.

"As the lion was still on its legs, I hastened to reload my gun; but
hearing a sudden and frightful cry from the natives, I looked up and
saw the wounded lion springing upon me.

"I was caught by the shoulder and hurled to the ground. Growling
terribly in my ear, the lion shook me as a dog does a rat.

"The shock produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by
a mouse after the first shake of a cat.

"The lion then leaped upon one of the natives who had tried to shoot at
him, and then sprang at the neck of a second native who, armed with a
spear, was rushing to the rescue.

[Illustration]

"The exertion was too much for the wounded beast, and so, with his claws
bedded in the spearman's shoulder, he rolled over and died.

"I had escaped, but with a shoulder so broken as to need an artificial
joint, and with eleven teeth wounds in my arm.

"These wounds were less severe than they would have been, had not a
heavy jacket which I had on, cleansed the teeth of the lion in their
passage. As it was, they were soon cured and gave me no trouble
afterward."

* * * * *

Directions for Reading.--Read this lesson in a full and clear
conversational tone of voice.

Those parts of the lesson to which we wish to call attention, should be
read slowly.

Example.--"The men edged in closer and closer, so that the lions might
be completely surrounded."

Should the slow and clear reading be kept up throughout pages 51 and 52,
or should those pages be read more rapidly?[04]

* * * * *

Language Lesson.--Syllabify, accent, and mark sounds of letters in the
following words: _Livingstone, bullet, growling, jacket, offered,
advice, severe_.

_Edged in closer and closer_ means went slowly nearer and nearer.

_Let fly with both barrels_ means fired both barrels of his gun at the
same time.

_Still on its legs_ means not so badly wounded but that it was ab