pend
upon it, if the animal's leg had not been broken, we should not have had
so easy a conquest. Let us sit down quietly till the men come up."

In about half an hour, as Bremen had conjectured, the Hottentots,
perceiving the horses loose, and suspecting that something had happened,
went in chase of them, and as soon as they had succeeded in catching
them, brought them in the direction to which they had seen our
travellers ride. They were not a little astonished at so small a party
having ventured to attack a lion, and gladly prepared for the attack of
the lioness. Three of the dogs having accompanied them, it was decided
that they should be put into the bushes where the lioness was lying when
the Major fired at her, so as to discover where she now was; and leaving
the lion for the present, they all set off for the first jungle.

The dogs could not find the lioness in the bushes, and it was evident
that she had retreated to some other place; and Swanevelt, who was an
old lion-hunter, gave his opinion that she would be found in the
direction near to where the lion was killed. They went therefore in
that direction, and found that she was in the clump of mimosas to which
the lion had first retreated. The previous arrangement of backing the
horses towards where she lay was attempted, but the animals had been too
much frightened in the morning by the lion's attack, to be persuaded.
They reared and plunged in such a manner, as to be with difficulty
prevented from breaking loose; it was therefore necessary to abandon
that plan, and trust to themselves and their numbers. The clump of
trees was surrounded by the party, and the dogs encouraged to go in,
which they did, every now and then rushing back from the paws of the
lioness. The Hottentots now fired into the clump at random, and their
volleys were answered by the loud roars of the animal, which would not
however show herself, and half an hour was passed away in this manner.

At last she was perceived at one side of the jungle, by Swanevelt, who
fired with effect, for the animal gave a loud roar, and then bounded
out, not attempting to rush upon any person, but to make her escape from
her assailants. A volley was fired at her, and one shot took effect,
for she fell with her head to the ground, and tumbled right over; but
immediately after she recovered herself, and made off for the bushes
where she had been first discovered.

"She was hit hard that time, at all ev