EXCITEMENT OF LION BUNTING. 225 but the excitement is tenfold increased, when the roar of the king of beasts is heard, growing louder as he approaches the hiding-place of the watchers. Then the rifle is grasped with firmer grip, as with beating heart, and finger on trigger, the sportsman watches the trembling sheep tugging and straining at its rope, in vain endeavour to escape from the shadowy form and gleaming eyes, which, though hidden as yet from the eager gaze of the hunter by intervening bushes, are only too plainly visible to the intended victim. An instant of intense suspense, and then with a deep growl the lion launches himself upon his prey. Now is the supreme moment ! a quick shot followed by a cloud of dust often rendering a second impossible, and for a moment it is difficult to determine how the game is going. Is he dead, or mortally wounded } in full retreat, or blindly charging his assailant, separated from him by only a few feet } During the night my brother William saw no less than six lions, at two of which he fired ; the others made off without giving him the chance of a shot. Of these six, five paid him a visit at the same time, and this troop stood under a tree too far off for him to fire in the uncertain moonlight ; suddenly one of them, with a tremendous rush and a low roar, sprang on the sheep. He fired, and knocked it over ; but it recovered Itself, and made off for the bushes, where it lay groaning. Very shortly after, another lion made its appearance, and stood gazing at the sheep. Feeling that he had fired too quickly before, he * determined to reserve his fire until the lion should be quite • close to him. Suddenly, however, with an angry growl, the beast turned sharply round, and galloped off. My brother naturally felt much annoyed, that he had not fired, and feared that he would not get another chance that night. Luckily, however, in a very short time the lion returned to the very