第2章

[*]Ihaveknownalioncarryatwo—year—oldoxoverastonewallfourfeethighinthisfashion，andamileawayintothebushbeyond。

Hewassubsequentlypoisonedbystrychnineputintothecarcassoftheox，andIstillhavehisclaws。——Editor。

"Sowithscaredandheavyheartswecreptbacktotheskerm，andsatdowntowaitforthedawn，whichnowcouldnotbemuchmorethananhouroff。Itwasabsolutelyuselesstotryeventodisentangletheoxentillthen，soallthatwasleftforustodowastositandwonderhowitcametopassthattheoneshouldbetakenandtheotherleft，andtohopeagainsthopethatourpoorservantmighthavebeenmercifullydeliveredfromthelion’sjaws。

"Atlengththefaintdawncamestealinglikeaghostupthelongslopeofbush，andglintedonthetangledoxen’shorns，andwithwhiteandfrightenedfaceswegotupandsettothetaskofdisentanglingtheoxen，tillsuchtimeasthereshouldbelightenoughtoenableustofollowthetrailofthelionesswhichhadgoneoffwithJim—Jim。Andhereafreshtroubleawaitedus，forwhenatlastwithinfinitedifficultywehaddisentangledthegreathelplessbrutes，itwasonlytofindthatoneofthebestofthemwasverysick。Therewasnomistakeaboutthewayhestoodwithhislegsslightlyapartandhisheadhangingdown。Hehadgottheredwater，Iwassureofit。OfallthedifficultiesconnectedwithlifeandtravellinginSouthAfricathoseconnectedwithoxenareperhapstheworst。Theoxisthemostexasperatinganimalintheworld，anegroexcepted。Hehasabsolutelynoconstitution，andneverneglectsanopportunityoffallingsickofsomemysteriousdisease。Hewillgetthinupontheslightestprovocation，andfrommeremaliciousnessdieof’poverty’；whereasitishischiefdelighttoturnroundandrefusetopullwheneverhefindshimselfwellinthecentreofariver，orthewaggon—wheelnicelyfastinamudhole。Drivehimafewmilesoverroughroadsandyouwillfindthatheisfootsore；turnhimloosetofeedandyouwilldiscoverthathehasrunaway，orifhehasnotrunawayhehasofmaliceaforethoughteaten’tulip’andpoisonedhimself。Thereisalwayssomethingwithhim。Theoxisabrute。Itwasofapiecewithhisaccustomedbehaviourfortheoneinquestiontobreakout——onpurposeprobably——withredwaterjustwhenalionhadwalkedoffwithhisherd。ItwasexactlywhatIshouldhaveexpected，andIwasthereforeneitherdisappointednorsurprised。

"Well，itwasnousecryingasIshouldalmosthavelikedtodo，becauseifthisoxhadredwateritwasprobablethattherestofthemhadittoo，althoughtheyhadbeensoldtomeas’salted，’thatis，proofagainstsuchdiseasesasredwaterandlungsick。OnegetshardenedtothissortofthinginSouthAfricaincourseoftime，forIsupposeinnoothercountryintheworldisthewasteofanimallifesogreat。

"SotakingmyrifleandtellingHarrytofollowme（forwehadtoleavePharaohtolookaftertheoxen——Pharaoh’sleankine，Icalledthem），IstartedtoseeifanythingcouldbefoundoforappertainingtotheunfortunateJim—Jim。Thegroundroundourlittlecampwashardandrocky，andwecouldnothitoffanyspoorofthelioness，thoughjustoutsidetheskermwasadroportwoofblood。Aboutthreehundredyardsfromthecamp，andalittletotheright，wasapatchofsugarbushmixedupwiththeusualmimosa，andforthisImade，thinkingthatthelionesswouldhavebeensuretotakeherpreytheretodevourit。Onwepushedthroughthelonggrassthatwasbentdownbeneaththeweightofthesoakingdew。Intwominuteswewerewetthroughuptothethighs，aswetasthoughwehadwadedthroughwater。Induecourse，however，wereachedthepatchofbush，andbythegreylightofthemorningcautiouslyandslowlypushedourwayintoit。Itwasverydarkunderthetrees，forthesunwasnotyetup，sowewalkedwiththemostextremecare，halfexpectingeveryminutetocomeacrossthelionesslickingthebonesofpoorJim—Jim。Butnolionesscouldwesee，andasforJim—Jimtherewasnotevenafinger—jointofhimtobefound。Evidentlytheyhadnotcomehere。

"Sopushingthroughthebushweproceededtohunteveryotherlikelyspot，butwiththesameresult。

"’Isupposeshemusthavetakenhimrightaway，’Isaidatlast，sadlyenough。’Atanyratehewillbedeadbynow，soGodhavemercyonhim，wecan’thelphim。What’stobedonenow？’

"’Isupposethatwehadbetterwashourselvesinthepool，andthengobackandgetsomethingtoeat。Iamfilthy，’saidHarry。

"Thiswasapracticalifasomewhatunfeelingsuggestion。AtleastitstruckmeasunfeelingtotalkofwashingwhenpoorJim—Jimhadbeensorecentlyeaten。However，Ididnotletmysentimentcarrymeaway，sowewentdowntothebeautifulspotthatIhavedescribed，towash。

Iwasthefirsttoreachit，whichIdidbyscramblingdownthefernybank。ThenIturnedround，andstartedbackwithayell——aswellI

might，foralmostfrombeneathmyfeettherecameamostawfulsnarl。

"Ihadlitnearlyuponthebackofthelioness，thathadbeensleepingontheslabwherewealwaysstoodtodryourselvesafterbathing。Withasnarlandagrowl，beforeIcoulddoanything，beforeIcouldevencockmyrifle，shehadboundedrightacrossthecrystalpool，andvanishedovertheoppositebank。Itwasalldoneinaninstant，asquickasthought。

"Shehadbeensleepingontheslab，andoh，horror！whatwasthatsleepingbesideher？ItwastheredremainsofpoorJim—Jim，lyingonapatchofblood—stainedrock。

"’Oh！father，father！’shriekedHarry，’lookinthewater！’

"Ilooked。There，floatinginthecentreofthelovelytranquilpool，wasJim—Jim’shead。Thelionesshadbittenitrightoff，andithadrolleddowntheslopingrockintothewater。

CHAPTERIII

JIM—JIMISAVENGED

"Weneverbathedinthatpoolagain；indeedformypartIcouldneverlookatitspeacefulpurityfringedroundwithwavingfernswithoutthinkingofthatghastlyheadwhichrolleditselfoffthroughthewaterwhenwetriedtocatchit。

"PoorJim—Jim！Weburiedwhatwasleftofhim，whichwasnotverymuch，inanoldbread—bag，andthoughwhilsthelivedhisvirtueswerenotgreat，nowthathewasgonewecouldhaveweptoverhim。Indeed，Harrydidweepoutright；whilePharaohusedverybadlanguageinZulu，andIregisteredaquietlittlevowonmyaccountthatIwouldletdaylightintothatlionessbeforeIwasforty—eighthoursolder，ifbyanymeansitcouldbedone。

"Well，weburiedhim，andthereheliesinthebread—bag（whichI

rathergrudgedhim，asitwastheonlyonewehad），wherelionswillnottroublehimanymore——thoughperhapsthehy？naswill，iftheyconsiderthatthereisenoughonhimlefttomakeitworththeirwhiletodighimup。However，hewon’tmindthat；sothereisanendofthebookofJim—Jim。

"Thequestionthatnowremainedwas，howtocircumventhismurderess。

Iknewthatshewouldbesuretoreturnassoonasshewashungryagain，butIdidnotknowwhenshewouldbehungry。ShehadleftsolittleofJim—JimbehindherthatIshouldscarcelyexpecttoseeherthenextnight，unlessindeedshehadcubs。Still，Ifeltthatitwouldnotbewisetomissthechanceofhercoming，sowesetaboutmakingpreparationsforherreception。Thefirstthingthatwedidwastostrengthenthebushwalloftheskermbydraggingalargequantityofthetopsofthorn—treestogether，andlayingthemoneontheotherinsuchafashionthatthethornspointedoutwards。This，afterourexperienceofthefateofJim—Jim，seemedaverynecessaryprecaution，sinceifwhereonegoatcanjumpanothercanfollow，astheKaffirssay，howmuchmoreisthisthecasewhenananimalsoactiveandsovigorousasthelionisconcerned！Andnowcamethefurtherquestion，howwerewetobeguilethelionesstoreturn？Lionsareanimalsthathaveastrangeknackofappearingwhentheyarenotwanted，andkeepingstudiouslyoutofthewaywhentheirpresenceisrequired。OfcourseitwaspossiblethatifshehadfoundJim—Jimtoherlikingshewouldcomebacktoseeiftherewereanymoreofhiskindabout，butstillitwasnottobereliedon。

"Harry，whoasIhavesaidwasaneminentlypracticalboy，suggestedtoPharaohthatheshouldgoandsitoutsidetheskerminthemoonlightasasortofbait，assuringhimthathewouldhavenothingtofear，asweshouldcertainlykillthelionessbeforeshekilledhim。Pharaohhowever，strangelyenough，didnotseemtotaketothissuggestion。Indeed，hewalkedaway，muchputoutwithHarryforhavingmadeit。

"Itgavemeanidea，however。

"’ByJove！’Isaid，’thereisthesickox。Hemustdiesoonerorlater，sowemayaswellutilizehim。’

"Now，aboutthirtyyardstotheleftofourskerm，asonestoodfacingdownthehilltowardstheriver，wasthestumpofatreethathadbeendestroyedbylightningmanyyearsbefore，standingequidistantbetween，butalittleinfrontof，twoclumpsofbush，whichwereseverallysomefifteenpacesfromit。

"Herewastheveryplacetotietheox；andaccordinglyalittlebeforesunsetthesickanimalwasledforthbyPharaohandmadefastthere，littleknowing，poorbrute，forwhatpurpose；andwebeganourlongvigil，thistimewithoutafire，forourobjectwastoattractthelionessandnottoscareher。

"Forhourafterhourwewaited，keepingourselvesawakebypinchingeachother——itis，bytheway，remarkablewhatadifferenceofopinionastotheforceofpinchesrequisitetotheoccasionexistsinthemindofpincherandpinched——butnolionesscame。Atlastthemoonwentdown，anddarknessswalloweduptheworld，astheKaffirssay，butnolionscametoswallowusup。Wewaitedtilldawn，becausewedidnotdaretogotosleep，andthenatlastwithmanybadthoughtsinourheartswetooksuchrestaswecouldget，andthatwasnotmuch。

"Thatmorningwewentoutshooting，notbecausewewantedto，forweweretoodepressedandtired，butbecausewehadnomoremeat。Forthreehoursormorewewanderedaboutinabroilingsunlookingforsomethingtokill，butwithabsolutelynoresults。Forsomeunknownreasonthegamehadgrownveryscarceaboutthespot，thoughwhenI

wastheretwoyearsbeforeeverysortoflargegameexceptrhinocerosandelephantwasparticularlyabundant。Thelions，ofwhomthereweremany，aloneremained，andIfancythatitwasthefactofthegametheyliveonhavingtemporarilymigratedwhichmadethemsodaringandferocious。Asageneralrulealionisanamiableanimalenoughifheisleftalone，butahungrylionisalmostasdangerousasahungryman。Onehearsagreatmanydifferentopinionsexpressedastowhetherornothelionisremarkableforhiscourage，buttheresultofmyexperienceisthatverymuchdependsuponthestateofhisstomach。A

hungrylionwillnotstickatatrifle，whereasafullonewillfleeataverysmallrebuke。

"Well，wehuntedallabout，andnothingcouldwesee，notevenaduikerorabushbuck；andatlast，thoroughlytiredandoutoftemper，westartedonourwaybacktocamp，passingoverthebrowofasteepishhilltodoso。JustasweclimbedthecrestoftheridgeI

cametoastand，forthere，aboutsixhundredyardstomyleft，hisbeautifulcurvedhornsoutlinedagainstthesoftblueofthesky，I

sawanoblekoodoobull（/Strepsiceroskudu/）。Evenatthatdistance，forasyouknowmyeyesareverykeen，Icoulddistinctlyseethewhitestripesonitssidewhenthelightfelluponit，anditslargeandpointedearstwitchasthefliesworriedit。

"Sofarsogood；buthowwerewetogetatit？Itwasridiculoustoriskashotatthatgreatdistance，andyetboththegroundandthewindlayveryillforstalking。Itseemedtomethattheonlychancewouldbetomakeadetourofatleastamileormore，andcomeupontheothersideofthekoodoo。IcalledHarrytomyside，andexplainedtohimwhatIthoughtwouldbeourbestcourse，whensuddenly，withoutanydelay，thekoodoosavedusfurthertroublebysuddenlystartingoffdownthehilllikealeapingrocket。Idonotknowwhathadfrightenedit，certainlywehadnot。Perhapsahy？naoraleopard——atigeraswecallitthere——hadsuddenlyappeared；atanyrate，offitwent，runningslightlytowardsus，andIneversawabuckgofaster。I

amafraidthatforgettingHarry’spresenceIusedstronglanguage，andreallytherewassomeexcuse。AsforHarry，hestoodwatchingthebeautifulanimal’scourse。Presentlyitvanishedbehindapatchofbush，toemergeafewsecondslateraboutfivehundredpacesfromus，onastretchofcomparativelylevelgroundthatwasstrewnwithboulders。Onitwent，clearingthebouldersinitspathwithasuccessionofgreatboundsthatwerebeautifultobehold。Asitdidso，IhappenedtolookroundatHarry，andperceivedtomyastonishmentthathehadgothisrifletohisshoulder。

"’Youyoungdonkey！’Iexclaimed，’surelyyouarenotgoingto’——andjustatthatmomenttheriflewentoff。

"AndthenIthinkIsawwhatwasinitswayoneofthemostwonderfulthingsIeverrememberinmyhuntingexperience。Thekoodoowasatthemomentintheair，clearingapileofstoneswithitsfore—legstuckedupunderneathit。Allofaninstantthelegsstretchedthemselvesoutinaspasmodicfashion，itlitonthem，andtheydoubledupbeneathit。Downwentthenoblebuck，downuponhishead。Foramomentheseemedtobestandingonhishorns，hishind—legshighintheair，andthenoverherolledandlaystill。

"’GreatHeavens！’Isaid，’why，you’vehithim！He’sdead。’

"AsforHarry，hesaidnothing，butmerelylookedscared，aswellhemight，forsuchamarvellous，Imaysaysuchanappallingandghastlyflukeithasneverbeenmylottowitness。Aman，letaloneaboy，mighthavefiredathousandsuchshotswithoutevertouchingtheobject；which，mindyou，wasspringingandboundingoverrocksquitefivehundredyardsaway；andherethislad——takingasnapshot，andmerelyallowingforspeedandelevationbyinstinct，forhedidnotputuphissights——hadknockedthebulloverasdeadasadoor—nail。

Well，Imadenofurtherremark，astheoccasionwastoosolemnfortalking，butmerelyledthewaytowherethekoodoohadfallen。Therehelay，beautifulandquitestill；andthere，highup，abouthalf—waydownhisneck，wasaneatroundhole。Thebullethadseveredthespinalmarrow，passingthroughthevertebr？andawayontheotherside。

"Itwasalreadyeveningwhen，havingcutasmuchofthebestmeataswecouldcarryfromthebull，andtiedaredhandkerchiefandsometuftsofgrasstohisspiralhorns，which，bytheway，musthavebeennearlyfivefeetinlength，inthehopeofkeepingthejackalsandaasv？gels（vultures）fromhim，wefinallygotbacktocamp，tofindPharaoh，whowasgettingratheranxiousatourabsence，readytogreetuswiththepleasingintelligencethatanotheroxwassick。ButeventhisdreadfulbitofintelligencecouldnotdashHarry’sspirits；thefactofthematterbeing，incredibleasitmayappear，Idoverilybelievethatinhisheartofheartshesetdownthedeathofthekoodootothecreditofhisownskill。Now，thoughtheladwasaprettyshotenough，thisofcoursewasridiculous，andItoldhimsoplainly。

"Bythetimethatwehadfinishedoursupperofkoodoosteaks（whichwouldhavebeenbetterifthekoodoohadbeenalittleyounger），itwastimetogetreadyforJim—Jim’smurderess。Accordinglywedeterminedagaintoexposetheunfortunatesickox，thatwasnowabsolutelyonitslastlegs，beingindeedscarcelyabletostand。AlltheafternoonPharaohtoldusithadbeenwalkingroundandroundinacircleascattleinthelaststageofredwatergenerallydo。Nowithadcometoastandstill，andwasswayingtoandfrowithitsheadhangingdown。Sowetiedhimuptothestumpofthetreeasonthepreviousnight，knowingthatifthelionessdidnotkillhimhewouldbedeadbymorning。IndeedIwasafraidthathewoulddieatonce，inwhichcasehewouldbeofbutlittleuseasabait，forthelionisasportsmanlikeanimal，andunlessheisveryhungrygenerallypreferstokillhisowndinner，thoughwhenthatisoncekilledhewillcomebacktoitagainandagain。

"Thenweagainwentthroughourexperienceofthepreviousnight，sittingtherehourafterhour，tillatlastHarryfellfastasleep，and，thoughIamaccustomedtothissortofthing，evenIcouldscarcelykeepmyeyesopen。IndeedIwasjustdroppingoff，whensuddenlyPharaohgavemeapush。

"’/Listen！/’hewhispered。

"Iwasawakeinasecond，andlisteningwithallmyears。Fromtheclumpofbushtotherightofthelightning—shatteredstumptowhichthesickoxwastiedcameafaintcracklingnoise。Presentlyitwasrepeated。Somethingwasmovingthere，faintlyandquietlyenough，butstillmovingperceptibly，forintheintensestillnessofthenightanysoundseemedloud。

"IwokeupHarry，whoinstantlysaid，’Whereisshe？whereisshe？’

andbegantopointhisrifleaboutinafashionthatwasmoredangeroustousandtheoxenthantoanypossiblelioness。

"’Bequiet！’Iwhispered，savagely；andasIdidso，withalowandhideousgrowlaflashofyellowlightspedoutoftheclumpofbush，pasttheox，andintothecorrespondingclumpupontheotherside。Thepoorsickcreaturegaveasortofgroan，staggeredroundandthenbegantotremble。Icouldseeitdosoclearlyinthemoonlight，whichwasnowverybright，andIfeltabruteforhavingexposedtheunfortunateanimaltosuchagonyashemustundoubtedlybeundergoing。

Thelioness，foritwasshe，passedsoquicklythatwecouldnotevendistinguishhermovements，muchlessfire。Indeedatnightitisabsolutelyuselesstoattempttoshootunlesstheobjectisverycloseandstandingperfectlystill，andthenthelightissodeceptiveanditissodifficulttoseetheforesightthatthebestshotwillmissmoreoftenthanhehits。

"’Shewillbebackagainpresently，’Isaid；’lookout，butforHeaven’ssakedon’tfireunlessItellyouto。’

"Hardlywerethewordsoutofmymouthwhenbackshecame，andagainpassedtheoxwithoutstrikinghim。

"’Whatonearthisshedoing？’whisperedHarry。

"’Playingwithitasacatdoeswithamouse，Isuppose。Shewillkillitpresently。’

"AsIspoke，thelionessoncemoreflashedoutofthebush，andthistimesprangrightoverthedoomedandtremblingox。Itwasabeautifulsighttoseeherclearhiminthebrightmoonlight，asthoughitwereatrickwhichshehadbeentaught。

"’Ibelievethatshehasescapedfromacircus，’whisperedHarry；

’it’sjollytoseeherjump。’

"Isaidnothing，butIthoughttomyselfthatifitwas，MasterHarrydidnotquiteappreciatetheperformance，andsmallblametohim。Atanyrate，histeethwerechatteringalittle。

"Thencamealongishpause，andIbegantothinkthatthelionessmusthavegoneaway，whensuddenlysheappearedagain，andwithonemightyboundlandedrightontotheox，andstruckitafrightfulblowwithherpaw。

"Downitwent，andlayonthegroundkickingfeebly。Sheputdownherwicked—lookinghead，and，withafiercegrowlofcontentment，buriedherlongwhiteteethinthethroatofthedyinganimal。Whensheliftedhermuzzleagainitwasallstainedwithblood。Shestoodfacingusobliquely，lickingherbloodychopsandmakingasortofpurringnoise。

"’Now’sourtime，’Iwhispered，’firewhenIdo。’

"IgotontoheraswellasIcould，butHarry，insteadofwaitingformeasItoldhim，firedbeforeIdid，andthatofcoursehurriedme。

Butwhenthesmokecleared，Iwasdelightedtoseethatthelionesswasrollingaboutonthegroundbehindthebodyoftheox，whichcoveredherinsuchafashion，however，thatwecouldnotshootagaintomakeanendofher。

"’She’sdonefor！she’sdead，theyellowdevil！’yelledPharaohinexultation；andatthatverymomentthelioness，withasortofconvulsiverush，half—rolled，half—sprang，intothepatchofthickbushtotheright。Ifiredafterherasshewent，butsofarasI

couldseewithoutresult；indeedtheprobabilityisthatImissedherclean。Atanyrateshegottothebushinsafety，andoncethere，begantomakesuchadiabolicalnoiseasIneverheardbefore。Shewouldwhineandshriekwithpain，andthenburstoutintoperfectvolleysofroaringthatshookthewholeplace。

"’Well，’Isaid，’wemustjustletherroar；togointothatbushafterheratnightwouldbemadness。’

"Atthatmoment，tomyastonishmentandalarm，therecameanansweringroarfromthedirectionoftheriver，andthenanotherfrombehindtheswellofbush。Evidentlythereweremorelionsabout。Thewoundedlionessredoubledherefforts，withtheobject，Isuppose，ofsummoningtheotherstoherassistance。Atanyratetheycame，andquicklytoo，forwithinfiveminutes，peepingthroughthebushesofourskermfence，wesawamagnificentlionboundingalongtowardsus，throughthetalltamboukigrass，thatinthemoonlightlookedforalltheworldlikeripeningcorn。Onhecameingreatleaps，andaglorioussightitwastoseehim。Whenwithinfiftyyardsorso，hestoodstillinanopenspaceandroared。Thelionessroaredtoo；thentherecameathirdroar，andanothergreatblack—manedlionstalkedmajesticallyup，andjoinednumbertwo，tillreallyIbegantorealizewhattheoxmusthaveundergone。

"’Now，Harry，’Iwhispered，’whateveryoudodon’tfire，it’stoorisky。Iftheyletusbe，letthembe。’

"Well，thepairmarchedofftothebush，wherethewoundedlionesswasnowroaringdoubletides，andthethreeofthembegantosnarlandgrumbleawaytogetherthere。Presently，however，thelionessceasedroaring，andthetwolionscameoutagain，theblack—manedonefirst——

toprospect，Isuppose——walkedtowherethecarcassoftheoxlay，andsniffedatit。

"’Oh，whatashot！’whisperedHarry，whowastremblingwithexcitement。

"’Yes，’Isaid；’butdon’tfire；theymightallofthemcomeforus。’

"Harrysaidnothing，butwhetheritwasfromthenaturalimpetuosityofyouth，orbecausehewasthrownoffhisbalancebyexcitement，orfromsheerrecklessnessanddevilment，IamsureIcannottellyou，neverhavingbeenabletogetasatisfactoryexplanationfromhim；butatanyratethefactremains，he，withoutwordorwarning，entirelydisregardingmyexhortations，lifteduphisWestleyRichardsandfiredattheblack—manedlion，and，whatismore，hititslightlyontheflank。

"Nextsecondtherewasamostawfulroarfromtheinjuredlion。Heglaredaroundhimandroaredwithpain，forhewasbadlystung；andthen，beforeIcouldmakeupmymindwhattodo，thegreatblack—manedbrute，clearlyignorantofthecauseofhishurt，sprangrightatthethroatofhiscompanion，towhomheevidentlyattributedhismisfortune。Itwasacurioussighttoseetheastonishmentoftheotherlionatthismostunprovokedassault。Overherolledwithanangrysnarl，andontohimsprangtheblack—maneddemon，andbegantoworryhim。Thisfinallyawoketheyellow—manedliontoasenseofthesituation，andIamboundtosaythatherosetoitinamosteffectivemanner。Somehoworotherhegottohisfeet，and，roaringandsnarlingfrightfully，closedwithhismightyfoe。

"Thenensuedamosttremendousscene。Youknowwhatashockingthingitistoseetwolargedogsfightingwithabandonment。Well，awholehundredofdogscouldnothavelookedhalfsoterribleasthosetwogreatbrutesastheyrolledandroaredandrentintheirhorridrage。

Theygrippedeachother，theytoreateachother’sthroat，tilltheirmanescameoutinhandfuls，andtheredbloodstreameddowntheiryellowhides。Itwasanawfulandawonderfulthingtoseethegreatcatstearingateachotherwithallthefierceenergyoftheirsavagestrength，andmakingthenighthideouswiththeirheart—shakingnoise。

Andthefightwasagrandonetoo。Forsomeminutesitwasimpossibletosaywhichwasgettingthebestofit，butatlastIsawthattheblack—manedlion，thoughhewasslightlybigger，wasfailing。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthewoundinhisflankcrippledhim。Anyway，hebegantogettheworstofit，whichservedhimright，ashewastheaggressor。StillIcouldnothelpfeelingsorryforhim，forhehadfoughtagallantfight，whenhisantagonistfinallygothimbythethroat，and，struggleandstrikeoutashewould，begantoshakethelifeoutofhim。Overandovertheyrolledtogether，ahideousandawe—inspiringspectacle，buttheyellowonewouldnotloosehishold，andatlengthpoorblack—manegrewfaint，hisbreathcameingreatsnortsandseemedtorattleinhisnostrils，thenheopenedhishugemouth，gavetheghostofaroar，quivered，andwasdead。

"Whenhewasquitesurethatthevictorywashisown，theyellow—manedlionloosedhisgripandsniffedatthefallenfoe。Thenhelickedthedeadlion’seye，andnext，withhisfore—feetrestingonthecarcass，sentuphisownchantofvictory，thatwentrollingandpealingdownthedarkpathsofthenight。AndatthispointIinterfered。Takingacarefulsightatthecentreofhisbody，inordertogivethelargestpossiblemarginforerror，Ifired，andsenta。570expressbulletrightthroughhim，anddownhedroppeddeaduponthecarcassofhismightyfoe。

"Afterthat，fairlysatisfiedwithourperformances，wesleptpeaceablytilldawn，leavingPharaohtokeepwatchincaseanymorelionsshouldtakeitintotheirheadstocomeourway。

"Whenthesunwaswellupwearose，andwentverycautiously——atleastPharaohandIdid，forIwouldnotallowHarrytocome——toseeifwecouldfindanytraceofthewoundedlioness。Shehadceasedroaringimmediatelyuponthearrivalofthetwolions，andhadnotmadeasoundsince，fromwhichweconcludedthatshewasprobablydead。Iwasarmedwithmyexpress，whilePharaoh，inwhosehandsariflewasindeedadangerousweapon，tohiscompanions，hadanaxe。Onourwaywestoppedtolookatthetwodeadlions。Theyweremagnificentanimals，bothofthem，buttheirpeltswereentirelyspoiledbytheterriblemaulingtheyhadgiventoeachother，whichwasasadpity。

"Inanotherminutewewerefollowingthebloodspoorofthewoundedlionessintothebush，whereshehadtakenrefuge。This，Ineedhardlysay，wedidwiththeutmostcaution；indeed，Iforonedidnotatalllikethejob，andwasonlyconsoledbythereflectionthatitwasnecessary，andthatthebushwasnotthick。Well，westoodthere，keepingasfarfromthetreesaspossible，searchingandlookingabout，butnolionesscouldwesee，thoughwesawplentyofblood。

"’Shemusthavegonesomewheretodie，Pharaoh，’IsaidinZulu。

"’Yes，Inkoos，’heanswered，’shehascertainlygoneaway。’

"Hardlywerethewordsoutofhismouth，whenIheardaroar，andstartingroundsawthelionessemergefromtheverycentreofabush，inwhichshehadbeencurledup，justbehindPharaoh。Upshewentontoherhind—legs，andasshedidsoInoticedthatoneofherfore—

pawswasbrokenneartheshoulder，forithunglimplydown。Upshewent，toweringrightoverPharaoh’shead，asshedidsoliftingheruninjuredpawtostrikehimtotheearth。Andthen，beforeIcouldgetmyrifleroundordoanythingtoaverttheoncomingcatastrophe，theZuludidaverybraveandcleverthing。Realizinghisownimminentdanger，heboundedtooneside，andswingingtheheavyaxeroundhishead，broughtitdownrightontothebackofthelioness，severingthevertebr？andkillingherinstantaneously。Itwaswonderfultoseehercollapseallinaheaplikeanemptysack。

"’Myword，Pharaoh！’Isaid，’thatwaswelldone，andnonetoosoon。’

"’Yes，’heanswered，withalittlelaugh，’itwasagoodstroke，Inkoos。Jim—Jimwillsleepbetternow。’

"Then，callingHarrytous，weexaminedthelioness。Shewasold，ifonemightjudgefromherwornteeth，andnotverylarge，butthicklymade，andmusthavepossessedextraordinaryvitalitytohavelivedsolong，shotasshewas；for，inadditiontoherbrokenshoulder，myexpressbullethadblownagreatholeinhermiddlethatonemighthaveputafistinto。

"Well，thatisthestoryofthedeathofpoorJim—Jimandhowweavengedit。Itisratherinterestinginitsway，becauseofthefightbetweenthetwolions，ofwhichIneversawthelikeinallmyexperience，andIknowsomethingoflionsandtheirmanners。"

"AndhowdidyougetbacktoPilgrim’sRest？"IaskedHunterQuatermainwhenhehadfinishedhisyarn。

"Ah，wehadanicejobwiththat，"heanswered。"Thesecondsickoxdied，andsodidanother，andwehadtogetonasbestwecouldwiththreeharnessedunicornfashion，whilewepushedbehind。Wedidaboutfourmilesaday，andittookusnearlyamonth，duringthelastweekofwhichweprettywellstarved。"

"Inotice，"Isaid，"thatmostofyourtripsendedindisasterofsomesortoranother，andyetyouwentonmakingthem，whichstrikesoneasalittlestrange。"

"Yes，Idaresay：butthen，rememberIgotmylivingformanyyearsoutofhunting。Besides，halfthecharmofthethinglayinthedangersanddisasters，thoughtheywereterribleenoughatthetime。

Anotherthingis，mytripswerenotalldisastrous。Sometime，ifyoulike，Iwilltellyouastoryofonewhichwasverymuchthereverse，forImadeseveralthousandpoundsoutofit，andsawoneofthemostextraordinarysightsahunterevercameacross。ItwasonthistripthatImetthebravestnativewomanIeverknew；hernamewasMaiwa。

Butitistoolatenow，andbesides，Iamtiredoftalkingaboutmyself。Passthewater，willyou！"