y. We must go
back out of springing distance, and then all shout together, and keep
hallooing at him."

This advice was followed; they retreated a hundred yards, and then all
shouted at once, and after that the Hottentots hallooed and bawled to
the lion. This had the effect intended: the lion rose from the bodies
and advanced towards the party, who stood still hallooing at him, but
not attempting to irritate him, by presenting their guns. The lion
looked steadfastly at them for some time, and then turned away. After
retreating a few steps, it turned back to face them; the whole party
continued on the same spot, neither advancing so as to irritate him, nor
retreating so as to let the animal suppose that they were afraid of him.
When the lion had continued for a few minutes this course of retreating
and advancing, he turned right round, and went away at a hand canter,
and our travellers immediately hastened to the spot where Big Adam and
Omrah were still lying.

Omrah, who was not at all hurt, instantly jumped on his legs, and, if he
had been afraid, appeared to have quite recovered his courage, as he cut
all manner of capers, and laughed immoderately; but Big Adam was greatly
exhausted and could not move, as much from the immense pressure of the
lion's enormous body, as from the blood that he had lost by the wounds
which he had received. On examination, the bite in his leg was found to
be much the most serious, as the bone was injured; the wounds on his arm
were all flesh-wounds, and, although very painful, were not dangerous.
He was at present unable to speak, and was carried by his comrades to
the camp. Our travellers followed the Hottentots, as they had all had
enough of hunting for that day. As soon as they arrived, Big Adam's
wounds were dressed by Swinton, and the poor follow was accommodated
with a bed, made up for him in the baggage-waggon. They remained two
days more on the banks of the Modder River, and then they forded it and
continued their journey.

On the second day they perceived some small human figures on the summit
of a hill at some distance, which the Hottentots declared to be Bushmen,
of which people there were numerous hordes in this part of the country.
An attempt was made to open a communication with them, but in vain, as
when any of the party advanced on horseback towards them, the Bushmen
made a precipitate retreat. As they were now in the neighbourhood of
these plunderers, every care