Although the lion’s roar had been frequently heard by the settlers of Glen Lynden, some months elapsed before they came into actual conflict with his majesty2. By that time the little colony had taken firm root. It had also been strengthened by a few families of half-castes or mulattos.
One morning it was discovered that a horse had been carried off by a lion, and as his track was clearly traceable into a neighbouring kloof, the boldest men of the settlement, as well as some Dutchmen who chanced to be there at the time, were speedily assembled for a regular hunt after the audacious thief.
It was a great occasion, and some of the men who became noted3 for prowess in after years began their career on that day. George Rennie, who ultimately acquired the title of the Lion-hunter, came to the rendezvous4 with a large elephant-gun on his shoulder; also his brother John, fearless and daring as himself. Then followed the brothers Diederik and Christian5 Muller,—frank, free, generous-hearted Dutchmen, who were already known as among the most intrepid6 lion-hunters of South Africa; and Arend Coetzer of Eland’s-drift; and Lucas Van Dyk, a tall dark muscular man of about six feet two, with a bushy black beard, and an eye like an eagle’s, carrying a gun almost as long and unwieldy as himself; and Slinger7, Allie, and Dikkop, their sturdy Hottentot servants, with Dugal, a half-tamed Bushman, the special charge of Mr Pringle. These and several others were all armed with gun and spear and knife.
Soon our friend Sandy Black, who had been summoned from work in his garden, joined them with a rusty8 old flint-lock gun. He was followed by young Rivers, with a double-barrelled percussion9 of large calibre, and by Kenneth McTavish, accompanied by his wife and Jessie, both imploring10 him earnestly, “not to be rash, and to keep well out of danger!”
“My dear, it’s not a ‘thing’, it’s an animal,” growled13 Kenneth, trying to induce his wife to go home.
“Yes, but it is so dangerous, and only think, if it should get hold of you—and I know your headstrong courage will make you do something foolhardy—what is to become of me and Jessie?”
It was evident from the tone of McTavish’s reply that he did not care much what should become of either wife or daughter just then, for he saw that his male friends were laughing at him, but he was fortunately relieved by Jerry Goldboy coming up at the moment—with the blunderbuss on his shoulder—and informing Mrs McTavish that her “pet,” a lamb which had been recently purchased from one of the Tarka boers, was at large, with two or three hungry dogs looking earnestly at it!
The good lady at once forsook14 the old goat, and ran back with Jessie to the rescue of the pet lamb.
“What have ’ee putt i’ the ’buss?” asked Sandy Black of Jerry, with a sly look, as the latter joined the group of hunters.
“Well, d’you know, I ain’t quite sure,” replied Jerry in some confusion; “I—I was called out so suddenly that I ’ad scarce time to think.”
“Think!” repeated Black; “it doesna tak’ muckle time to think hoo to load a gun, but to be sure your gun is a pecooliar ane.”
“Well, you see,” returned Jerry, with the troubled look still on his countenance15, “it does require a little consideration, because it would be useless to load with my ordinary charge of gravel16 for a lion. Then I feared to put in large stones, lest they should jam in the barrel an’ bu’st the hold thing. So I collected a lot of hold buttons and a few nails, besides two or three thimbles, but—”
“Weel,” said Black, as his friend paused, “thae sort o’ slugs wull at least gie the lion a peppery sort o’ feeling, if naethin’ waur.”
“Yes, but, d’you see,” continued Jerry, “there was a silver tea-spoon on the table when I made the collection of things, and after I had loaded I I couldn’t find the tea-spoon, and I fear—”
The Hottentots were now sent on in advance to trace out the “spoor”—in other words, the track of the lion.
On the way one of the Dutchmen entertained those of the settlers who were inexperienced with an account of the mode in which lion-hunts should be conducted. The right way to go to work, he said, was to set the dogs into the cover and drive the lion into the open, when the whole band of hunters should march forward together and fire either singly or in volleys. If he did not fall, but should grow furious and advance upon his assailants, then they should stand close in a circle and turn their horses with their heads from the foe19, horses being usually much frightened at the sight of a lion. Some should hold the bridles20, while others should kneel and take careful aim at the approaching enemy, which would crouch21 now and then as if to measure his distance and calculate the power of his spring. When he crouched22, that was the time to shoot him fair in the head. If they should miss, which was not unlikely, or only wound the lion, and the horses should get frantic23 with tenor24 at his roars, and break loose, there was reason to fear that serious mischief25 might follow.
No Red Indian of the backwoods ever followed the “trail” of beast or foe more unerringly than these Hottentots and mulattos tracked that lion through brushwood and brake, over grass and gravel, where in many places, to an unskilled eye, there was no visible mark at all. Their perseverance26 was rewarded: they came upon the enemy sooner than had been expected. At the distance of about a mile from the spot where he had killed the horse they found him in a straggling thicket27.
From this point of vantage he would by no means come out. The dogs were sent in, and they barked furiously enough, but the lion would not condescend28 to show fight. After some hours spent in thus vainly heating about the bush, George Rennie became impatient and resolved to “storm” the stronghold! In company with his brother John, and another man named Ekron, he prepared to enter the thicket where the lion was concealed29, and persuaded three of the mulattos to follow in rear, and be ready to fire if their assault should prove abortive30.
It was of no use that Lucas, Van Dyk, and the Mullers, and other experienced Dutchmen, tried to dissuade31 them from their enterprise by assuring them that it was a ridiculous as well as reckless mode of attack, and would be almost certainly attended with fatal consequences. The brothers Rennie, as yet inexperienced, were obstinate32. They were bent33 on attacking the lion in his den1.
While this arrangement was being made the soul of Jerry Goldboy became unfortunately inflated34 with a desire to distinguish himself. Spiritually brave, though physically35 nervous, he made a sudden resolve to shoot that lion or die in the attempt! Without uttering a word he cocked his blunderbuss, and, before any one could prevent him, made a bold dash into the jungle at a point where the hounds were clamouring loudest.
“Save us a’, the body’s gane gyte!” exclaimed Sandy Black, promptly36 following. “Come on, freen’s, or he’s a deed man.”
Sandy’s impulse was suddenly arrested by a roar from the lion so tremendous that it appeared to shake the solid earth. Next moment Jerry beheld37 a large animal bound with a crash through the brake straight at him. His heart leaped into his mouth, but he retained sufficient vitality38 to present and fire. A wild yell followed, as the animal fell dead at his feet, and Jerry found that he had lodged39 the whole collection of buttons, nails, and miscellaneous articles, along with the tea-spoon, in the head of the best hound, which had been scared by the monarch’s appalling40 roar!
It is difficult to say whether laughter or indignant growls41 were loudest on the occurrence of this, but it is certain that the brothers Rennie entered the thicket immediately after, despite the almost angry remonstrances42 of the more knowing men, advanced to within about fifteen paces of the spot where the lion lay crouched among the gnarled roots of an evergreen43 bush with a small space of open ground on one side of it.
“Now then, boys,” said George Rennie, casting a hasty glance over his shoulder at the mulatto supports, “steady, and take good aim after we fire.”
He put the elephant gun to his shoulder as he spoke44, his brother and comrade did the same; a triple report followed, and the three heavy balls, aimed with deadly precision, struck a great block of red stone behind which the lion was lying.
With a furious growl12 he shot from his lair45 like the bolt from a cross-bow. The mulattos instinctively46 turned and fled without firing a shot. The three champions, with empty guns, tumbled over each other in eager haste to escape the dreaded47 claws—but in vain, for with one stroke he dashed John Rennie to the ground, put his paw on him, and looked round with that dignified48 air of grandeur49 which has doubtless earned for his race the royal title. The scene was at once magnificent, thrilling, and ludicrous. It was impossible for the other hunters to fire, because while one man was under the lion’s paw the others were scrambling50 towards them in such a way as to render an aim impossible.
After gazing at them steadily51 for a few seconds the lion turned as if in sovereign contempt, scattered52 the hounds like a pack of rats, and, with a majestic53 bound over bushes upwards54 of twelve feet high, re-entered the jungle. With a feeling of indignation at such contemptuous treatment, George Rennie re-charged his gun in haste, vowing56 vengeance57 against the whole feline58 race—a vow55 which he fully59 redeemed60 in after years. His brother John, who was injured to the extent of a scratch on the back and a severe bruise61 on the ribs62 by the rough treatment he had received, arose and slowly followed his example, and Groot Willem, growling63 in a tone that would have done credit to the lion himself, and losing for the moment the usual wisdom of his countrymen in such encounters, strode savagely64 into the jungle, followed by Sandy Black and Jerry, the latter of whom appeared to labour under a sort of frenzied65 courage which urged him on to deeds of desperate valour. At all events he had recharged his piece of ordnance66 to the very muzzle67 with a miscellaneous compound of sand, stones, and sticks—anything, in short, that would go down its capacious throat,—and, pushing wildly past Groot Willem, took the lead.
It was perhaps well for these strangely-assorted hunters that the lion had made up his mind to quit the jungle. A few minutes later he was seen retreating towards the mountains, and the chase was renewed, with hounds and Hottentots in full cry. They came up with him in a short time at bay under a mimosa-tree by the side of a streamlet. He lashed68 his tail and growled fiercely as he glared at the dogs, which barked and yelped69 round him, though they took good care to keep out of reach of his claws. While they stirred up his wrath70 to the boiling point, they at the same time distracted his attention, so that a party of Hottentots, getting between him and the mountain side, took up a position on a precipice71 which overlooked the spot where he stood at bay. Suddenly the lion appeared to change his mind. Turning as before, and clearing all obstacles at a bound, he took refuge in a dense72 thicket, into which a heavy fire was poured without any effect. Again George Rennie lost patience. He descended73 from the height accompanied by a favourite little dog, and threw two large stones into the thicket. His challenge was accepted on the spot. The lion leaped out with a roar, and was on the point of making another bound, which would certainly have been fatal to the hunter, but the little dog ran boldly up and barked in his face. The momentary74 interruption saved Rennie, who leaped backward, but the dog was instantly killed with a flashing pat from the royal paw. At the same moment a volley was fired by the Hottentots from the heights. Unfortunately the position of Rennie rendered it impossible for the Mullers or any of the other expert shots to fire.
Whether the volley had taken effect was uncertain, but it at all events turned the lion from his purpose. He wheeled round, and, abandoning the bush, took to a piece of open ground, across which the hunters and dogs followed him up hotly.
The lion now took refuge in a small copse on a slight eminence75. Diederik and Christian Muller were in advance, Groot Willem on his mighty76 charger came next. Van Dyk was running neck and neck with Jerry Goldboy, who flourished the blunderbuss over his head and yelled like a very demon77. It was obvious that he was mad for the time being. The rest came up in a confused body, many of the men on foot having kept up with the horsemen.
The Rennies, having by that time become wiser, gave up their reckless proceedings78, and allowed Christian Muller, who was tacitly acknowledged the leader of the party, to direct. He gave the signal to dismount when within a short distance of the copse, and ordered the horses to be tied together as the different riders came up. This was quickly done, and of course all possibility of retreat was thus cut off. The plan was to advance in a body up the slope, leaving the horses in charge of the Hottentots.
The preparations did not take long, but before they were completed a growl was heard, then a terrific roar, and the lion, who had made up his mind to act on the offensive, burst from the thicket and bore down on the party, his eyeballs glaring with rage. Being thus taken by surprise they were unprepared. His motion was so rapid that no one could take aim—except, indeed, Jerry, who discharged his piece at the sky, and, losing his balance, fell back with a wild halloo. Selecting one of the horses, the lion darted79 furiously at it. The affrighted animal sprang forward, and, in so doing, wheeled all the other horses violently round. The lion missed his aim, but faced about and crouched at a distance of only ten yards for another spring. It was a terrible moment! While the monster was meditating80 on which victim he should leap, Christian Muller was taking quick but deadly aim. If he should merely wound the brute81, certain death to some one of the party would have been the instantaneous result. Most of them knew this well.
Knowing also that Muller was cool and sure, they breathlessly awaited the result. Only three or four seconds were spent in aiming, but instants become minutes in such a case. Some of the men almost gasped82 with anxiety. Another moment, and Christian fired. The under jaw83 of the lion dropped, and blood gushed84 front his mouth. He turned round with a view to escape, but George Rennie shot him through the spine85. Turning again with a look of vengeance, he attempted to spring, but the once powerful hind-legs were now paralysed. At the same moment, Groot Willem, Van Dyk, Sandy Black, and McTavish put balls into different parts of his body, and a man named Stephanus put an end to his existence by shooting him through the brain.
It was a furious combat while it lasted, and a noble enemy had been subdued86, for this lion, besides being magnificent of aspect even in death, measured full twelve feet from the point of his nose to the tip of his tail.
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1
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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slinger
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| 投石者，吊物工人； 吊索 | |
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8
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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percussion
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| n.打击乐器；冲突，撞击；震动，音响 | |
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10
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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13
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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14
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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15
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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16
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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17
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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27
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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32
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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inflated
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| adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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35
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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37
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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38
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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39
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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40
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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41
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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42
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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43
evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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44
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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45
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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46
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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47
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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48
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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49
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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50
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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51
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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52
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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54
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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55
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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56
vowing
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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58
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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59
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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61
bruise
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| n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤 | |
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62
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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63
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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64
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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65
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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66
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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67
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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68
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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71
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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72
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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84
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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86
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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