two guns in
reserve."

"You are right, Bremen," said Alexander. "Then you and I will reserve
our fire, and the Major shall try his rifle upon her."

With some difficulty the horses were backed towards the bush, until the
Major could again distinguish where the lioness lay, at about sixty
paces' distance. The animal appeared still occupied with the game in
front of her, watching her opportunity to spring, for her tail and
hind-quarters were towards them. The Major fired, and the animal
bounded off with a loud roar; while the antelopes flew away like the
wind. The roar of the lioness was answered by a deep growl from another
part of the bush, and immediately afterwards a lion bolted out, and
bounded from the bushes across the plain, to a small mimosa grove about
a quarter, of a mile off.

"What a splendid animal!" said Alexander; "look at his black mane, it
almost sweeps the ground."

"We must have him," cried the Major, jumping on his horse.

Alexander, Bremen, and Omrah did the same, and they followed the lion,
which stood at bay under the mimosas, measuring the strength of the
party, and facing them in a most noble and imposing manner. It
appeared, however, that he did not like their appearance, or was not
satisfied with his own position, for as they advanced he retreated at a
slow pace, and took up his position on the summit of a stony hill close
by, the front of which was thickly dotted with low thorn-bushes. The
thorn-bushes extended about 200 yards from where the lion stood,
disdainfully surveying the party as they approached towards him, and
appearing, with a conscious pride in his own powers, to dare them to
approach him.

They dismounted from their horses as soon as they arrived at the
thorn-bushes, and the Major fired. The rifle-ball struck the rock close
to the lion, who replied with an angry growl. The Major then took the
gun from Omrah and fired, and again the ball struck close to the
animal's feet. The lion now shook his mane, gave another angry roar;
and by the glistening of his eyes, and the impatient switching of his
tail, it was evident that he would soon become the attacking party.

"Load both your guns again," said Alexander, "and then let me have a
shot, Major."

As soon as the Major's guns were loaded, Alexander took aim and fired.
The shot broke the lion's fore-leg, which he raised up with a voice of
thunder, and made a spring from the rock towards where our party stood.

"Stea