The Caffres had wakened up at the noise, and our travelers and the Hottentots now fired their guns off in every direction to scare away the animal.  Repeated discharges had this effect, and in the course of half an hour every thing was again quiet.

“Well,” observed Alexander, “this is the first time that I ever heard the roar of a lion in its wild state; and I can assure you that I shall never forget it as long as I live.”

“It is not the first time I have heard it,” replied the Major; “but I must say, what with the darkness and stillness of the night, and the reverberation, I never heard it so awful before.  But you, Swinton, who have traveled in the Namaqua-land, have, of course.”

“Yes, I have, but very seldom.”

“But it is rather singular that we have not heard the lion before this, is it not?” said Alexander.

“The lion is often near without giving you notice,” replied Swinton; “but I do not think that there are many lions in the country we have traversed; it is too populous.  On the other side of the mountains, if we return that way, we shall find them in plenty.  Wherever the antelopes are in herds, wherever you find the wild horse, zebra, and giraffe, you will as certainly find the lion, for he preys upon them.”

“I know very well, Swinton, that you are closely attentive to the peculiar habits of animals, and that they form a portion of your study.  Have you much knowledge of the lion? and if so, suppose you tell us something about them.”

“I have certainly studied the habits of the lion, and what I have gathered from my own observation and the information I received from others, I shall be most happy to communicate.  The lion undoubtedly does not kill wantonly—­of that I have had repeated instances.  I recollect one which is rather remarkable, as it showed the sagacity of the noble brute.  A man who belonged to one of the Mission stations, on his return home from a visit to his friends, took a circuitous route to pass a pool of water, at which he hoped to kill an antelope.  The sun had risen to some height when he arrived there, and as he could not perceive any game, he laid his gun down on a low shelving rock, the back part of which was covered with some brushwood.  He went down to the pool and had a hearty drink, returned to the rock, and after smoking his pipe, feeling weary, he lay down and fell fast asleep.

“In a short time, the excessive heat reflected from the rock awoke him, and opening his eyes he perceived a large lion about a yard from his feet, crouched down, with his eyes glaring on his face.  For some minutes he remained motionless with fright, expecting every moment that he would be in the jaws of the monster; at last he recovered his presence of mind, and casting his eye toward his gun, moved his hand slowly toward it; upon which the lion raised up his head and gave a tremendous roar which induced him hastily to withdraw his hand.  With this the lion appeared satisfied, and crouched with his head between his fore-paws as before.  After a little while the man made another attempt to possess himself of his gun.  The lion raised his head and gave another roar, and the man desisted; another and another attempt were at intervals made, but always with the same anger shown on the part of the lion.”