“If an old lion is in company with his children, as the natives call them, although they are in size equal to himself, or if a number of lions meet together in quest of game, there is always one who is admitted by them to be the oldest and ablest, and who leads.  If the game is come up with, it is this one who creeps up to it, and seizes it, while the others lie crouched upon the grass; if the old lion is successful, which he generally is, he retires from his victim, and lies down to breathe himself and rest for perhaps a quarter of an hour.  The others in the meantime draw round and lie down at a respectful distance, but never presume to go near the animal which the old lion has killed.  As soon as the old lion considers himself sufficiently rested, he goes up to the prey and commences at the breast and stomach, and after eating a considerable portion he will take a second rest, none of the others presuming to move.

“Having made a second repast, he then retires; the other lions watch his motions, and all rush to the remainder of the carcass, which is soon devoured.  I said that I witnessed an instance myself in corroboration of this statement, which I will now mention.  I was sitting on a rock after collecting some plants, when below me I saw a young lion seize an antelope; he had his paw upon the dead animal, when the old lion came up,—­upon which the young one immediately retired till his superior had dined first, and then came in for the remainder.  Mercy on us! what is that?”

“I thought it was the lion again,” said Alexander, “but it is thunder; we are about to have a storm.”

“Yes, and a fierce one too,” said the Major; “I am afraid that we must break up our party and retire under cover.  We have some large drops of rain already.”

A flash of lightning now dazzled them, and was followed by another, and an instantaneous peal of thunder.

“There is no mistake in this,” said Swinton; “and I can tell you that we shall have it upon us in less than a minute, so I am for my wagon.”

“At all events it will wash these Hottentots sober,” observed the Major, as they all walked away to their separate wagons for shelter.

CHAPTER XIV.

They had scarcely gained the wagons before the thunder and lightning became incessant, and so loud as to be deafening.  It appeared as if they were in the very center of the contending elements, and the wind rose and blew with terrific force, while the rain poured down as if the flood-gates of heaven were indeed opened.  The lightning was so vivid, that for the second that it lasted you could see the country round to the horizon almost as clear as day; the next moment all was terrific gloom accompanied by the stunning reports of the thunder, which caused every article in the wagons, and the wagons themselves, to vibrate from the concussion.  A large tree, not fifty yards from the caravan, was struck by the lightning, and came down with an appalling crash.  The Caffres had all roused up, and had sheltered themselves under the wagons.