war, in spite of the risk which one must always run by
attacking a lion at such close quarters on an open plain as flat as the
palm of the hand; so in a standing position I took careful aim at his
head, and fired. The distance was, as I have said, a bare seventy
yards; yet I must confess to a disgraceful miss. More astonishing
still, the beast made not the slightest movement--did not even blink an
eye, so far as I could see--but continued his steadfast, questioning
gaze. Again I took aim, this time for a spot below the tip of his nose,
and again I fired--with more success, the lion turning a complete
somersault over his tail. I thought he was done for, but he instantly
sprang to his feet again, and to my horror and astonishment was joined
by a lioness whose presence we had never even thought of or suspected.

Worse was still to follow, for to our dismay both made a most
determined charge on us, bounding along at a great pace and roaring
angrily as they came. Poor Mahina cried out, "Sahib, do sher ata hai!"
("Master, two lions are coming!"), but I told him to stand stock-still
and for his life not to make the slightest movement. In the twinkling
of an eye the two beasts had covered about forty yards of the distance
towards us. As they did not show the least sign of stopping, I thought
we had given the experiment of remaining absolutely motionless a fair
trial, and was just about to raise the rifle to my shoulder as a last
resort, when suddenly the wounded lion stopped, staggered, and fell to
the ground. The lioness took a couple of bounds nearer to us, and then
to my unmeasured relief turned to look round for her mate, who had by
this time managed to get to his feet again. There they both stood,
growling viciously and lashing their tails, for what appeared to me to
be a succession of ages. The lioness then made up her mind to go back
to the lion, and they both stood broadside on, with their heads close
together and turned towards us, snarling in a most aggressive manner.
Had either of us moved hand or foot just then, it would, I am
convinced, have at once brought on another and probably a fatal charge.

As the two great brutes stood in this position looking at us, I had, of
course, a grand opportunity of dropping both, but I confess I did not
feel equal to it at the moment. I could only devoutly hope that they
would not renew their attack, and was only too thankful to let them
depart in peace if they would, without any