[*]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！\"
