The bellowing and struggling of the oxen was almost instantaneously succeeded by a lion, with an ox borne on his shoulder, passing right through the whole congregation, sweeping away the remnants of the fire and the Hottentots right and left, and vanishing in a moment from their sight.  As may be imagined, all was confusion and alarm.  Some screamed, some shouted and ran for their guns; but it was too late.  On examination, it was found that the lion had seized the ox which had been tied up near to where they were sitting; their fire being nearly extinguished, and the one which should have been kept alight next to it altogether neglected by the Hottentots, in their anxiety to keep up those on which they had been broiling their buffalo-steaks.

The leather thongs by which the ox had been tied up were snapped like threads, and many of the other oxen had, in their agony of fear, broken their fastenings and escaped.  As the lion bounded away through the assembled party, it appeared as if the ox was not a feather’s weight to him.  He had, however, stepped rather roughly upon two of the Hottentots, who lay groaning, as if they had been severely hurt; but upon examination it was found that they had only been well scratched and covered with ashes.  The Bushmen, however, had left their meal, and with their bows and small poisoned arrows had gone in pursuit.  Bremen and one or two of the Hottentots proposed also to go, but our travelers would not permit them.  About an hour afterward the Bushmen returned, and Omrah had communication with them; and through Bremen they learned that the Bushmen had come up with the lion about a mile distant, and had discharged many of their arrows at him, and, they were convinced, with effect, as a heavy growl or an angry roar was the announcement when he was hit; but, although he was irritated, he continued his repast.  Omrah then said, “Lion dead to-morrow,—­Bushmen find him.”

“Well,” said Alexander, as they went to their wagons, which, in consequence of this event, and their having to make up large fires before they went to bed, they did not do till late, “I believe this is the first time that Divine service was ever wound up by such intrusion.”

“Perhaps so,” replied Swinton; “but I think it proves that we have more cause for prayer, surrounded as we are by such danger.  The lion might have taken one of us, and by this time we should have suffered a horrid death.”

“I never felt the full force of the many similes and comparisons in the Scriptures, where the lion is so often introduced, till now,” observed Alexander.

“It was indeed a most awful sermon after the prayers,” said the Major:  “I trust never to hear such a one again:  but is it not our own fault?  This is the second time that one of our oxen has been carried off by a lion, from the circle of fires not being properly attended to.  It is the neglect of the Hottentots, certainly; but if they are so neglectful, we should attend to them ourselves.”