“I think if Gyt escaped, he must have felt very much inclined to shoot the wretch himself.”

“The lion-hunters affirm that, if Gyt had but persevered a little longer, the animal would have at last released his hold and left Gyt uninjured; that the grip of the lion was more from fear that the man would hurt him, than from any wish to hurt the man; and such is my opinion.  But Gyt, indignant at the cowardice of his comrade, and losing patience with the lion, at last drew his hunting-knife, which all the boors invariably carry at their side, and with all the power of his right arm thrust it into the lion’s breast.

“The thrust was a deadly one, for it was aimed with judgment, and Gyt was a bold and powerful man; but it did not prove effectual so as to save Gyt’s life, for the enraged lion, striving in his death agonies to grapple with Gyt,—­held at arm’s length by the strength of desperation on the part of the boor,—­so dreadfully lacerated with his talons the breast and arms of poor Gyt, that his bones were left bare.

“At last the lion fell dead, and Gyt fell with him.  His cowardly companion, who had witnessed this fearful struggle from the rock, now took courage to advance, and carried the mangled body of Gyt to the nearest house.  Medical aid was at hand, but vainly applied, as on the third day, he died of a locked jaw.  Such was the tragical end of this rencounter, from the sheer cowardice of Gyt’s companion.

“I could mention many other instances in which lions have had men in their power and have not injured them, if they have neither attempted to escape nor to assault; but I think I have given enough already, not only to prove the fact of his general forbearance toward man, but also that there is something in the eye of man at which the lion and other animals, I believe, will quail.”

“I can myself give an instance that this fascinating effect, or whatever it may be, of the human eye, is not confined wholly to the lion,” said the Major.

“One of our officers in India, having once rambled into a jungle adjoining the British encampment, suddenly encountered a Bengal tiger.  The meeting was evidently most unexpected on both sides, and both parties made a dead halt, earnestly gazing at each other.  The officer had no fire-arms with him, although he had his regulation sword by his side; but that he knew would be of no defense if he had to struggle for life with such a fearful antagonist.  He was, however, a man of undaunted courage, and he had heard that even a Bengal tiger might be checked by looking him steadily in the face.

“His only artillery being, like a lady’s, that of his eyes, he directed them point blank at the tiger.  He would have infinitely preferred a rifle, as he was not at all sure but that his eyes might miss fire.  However, after a few minutes, during which the tiger had been crouched ready for his spring, the animal appeared disturbed and irresolute, slunk on one side, and then attempted to crawl round behind the officer.