hear him fall.  Some time after, I fired at a second, as they stood on the bank above me; this buffalo was also hard hit, but did not then fall.  A little after, I fired at a third on the same spot; he ran forty yards, and, falling, groaned fearfully:  this at once brought on a number of the others to butt their dying comrade, according to their benevolent custom.  I then crept in toward them, and, firing my fourth shot, a second buffalo ran forward a few yards, and, falling, groaned as the last; her comrades, coming up, served her in the same manner.  A second time I crept in, and, firing a fifth shot, a third buffalo ran forward, and fell close to her dying comrades:  in a few minutes all the other buffaloes made off, and the sound of teeth tearing at the flesh was heard immediately.

I fancied it was the hyaenas, and fired a shot to scare them from the flesh.  All was still; and, being anxious to inspect the heads of the buffaloes, I went boldly forward, taking the native who accompanied me, along with me.  We were within about five yards of the nearest buffalo, when I observed a yellow mass lying alongside of him, and at the same instant a lion gave a deep growl,—­I thought it was all over with me.  The native shouted “Tao,” and, springing away, instantly commenced blowing shrilly through a charmed piece of bone which he wore on his necklace.  I retreated to the native, and we then knelt down.  The lion continued his meal, tearing away at the buffalo, and growling at his wife and family, who, I found next day, by the spoor, had accompanied him.  Knowing that he would not molest me if I left him alone, I proposed to the native to go to our hole and lie down, but he would not hear of it, and entreated me to fire at the lion.  I fired three different shots where I thought I saw him, but without any effect; he would not so much as for a moment cease munching my buffalo.  I then proceeded to lie down, and was soon asleep, the native keeping watch over our destinies.  Some time after midnight other lions were heard coming on from other airts, and my old friend commenced roaring so loudly that the native thought it proper to wake me.

The first old lion now wanted to drink, and held right away for the two unfortunate steeds, roaring terribly.  I felt rather alarmed for their safety; but, trusting that the lion had had flesh enough for one night, I lay still, and listened with an attentive ear.  In a few minutes, to my utter horror, I heard him spring upon one of the steeds with an angry growl, and dash him to the earth; the steed gave a slight groan, and all was still.  I listened to hear the sound of teeth, but all continued still.  Soon after this “Tao,” was once more heard to be munching the buffalo.  In a few minutes he came forward, and stood on the bank close above us, and roared most terribly, walking up and down, as if meditating some mischief.  I now thought it high time to make a fire, and, quickly collecting some dry reeds and little sticks, in half a minute