hen Big Adam, who was close to him, attempted to rise and gain
his feet; but perceiving this, the animal, with a blow of its fore-paw,
laid him prostrate again, set its foot upon his breast, and in this
attitude again looked proudly round him, as if confident of his
superiority.

Omrah, who had sense enough to lie still, had yet his eyes sufficiently
opened to see what was going on; and as the lion appeared to be looking
at the scattered party, in a direction away from him, Omrah made one or
two turns over, so as to get further off, hoping that he might escape
unperceived. The lion, however, heard the rustling, and turning round
growled at him, and Omrah remained still again. As Big Adam's feet were
turned toward Omrah, the lion now took up his position, deliberately
lying down at full length upon Big Adam's body, with his hind-quarters
upon the Hottentot's face, so that he not only secured his prisoner, but
watched Omrah, who lay about three yards from him.

In the mean time the anxiety of the other party may be imagined; they
considered that Big Adam and Omrah must be sacrificed. It was proposed
to fire with good aim, so as, if possible, to bring the animal's
attention and indignation upon themselves; but Swinton cried out not to
fire on any account. "The animal is not hungry or even angry," said
Swinton. "If let alone, he will probably walk away without doing them
injury. At all events, our firing will be the signal for their
destruction."

The advice of Swinton was considered good, especially as it was backed
by that of Bremen, who also said that the lion was not hungry, and that,
by the way in which he, moved his tail, he was evidently more inclined
to play than any thing else.

But in the mean time the pressure of the lion, whose weight was
enormous, was not only more than Big Adam could bear, but the
hind-quarters of the animal being over his face prevented him from
breathing; and at last he was compelled to struggle to get his head
clear. The consequence of his struggling was a severe bite on the leg,
inflicted on poor Adam; not, however, in a furious manner; for the lion
merely caught at him as a cat would at a mouse, to prevent its escape,
or because it was not quite dead. However, Big Adam had so far
disengaged his head that he could now breathe; and as the party kept
crying out to him to lie still, he continued so to do, although nearly
suffocated with the enormous weight of the animal.

Omrah, who had