CHAPTER XX.
Having filled their water-kegs, the next morning at day-light they yokedthe oxen and left the banks of the Cradock or Black River, to proceedmore to the northward, through the Bushmen's country; but as they wereaware that there was no water to be procured, if they quitted the streamaltogether, till they arrived at the Val or Yellow River, they decidedupon following the course of the Black River to the westward for sometime, before they struck off for the Val or Yellow River, near to whichthey expected to fall in with plenty of game, and particularly thegiraffe and rhinoceros.
Although at that season of the year the river was nearly dry, stillthere was a scanty herbage on and near its bank, intermixed with beds ofrushes and high reeds; this was sufficient for the pasture of thecattle, but it was infested with lions and other animals, which at thedry season of the year kept near the river-bank for a supply of water.
By noon they had proceeded about fifteen miles to the westward, and asthey advanced they found that the supply of water in the river was moreabundant; they then unyoked the cattle to allow them to feed till theevening, for it was too dangerous to turn them loose at night. As theywere in no hurry, they resolved that they would only travel for thefuture from daylight till noon; the afternoon and evening were to bespent in hunting, and at night they were to halt the caravan and secureevery thing as before, by inclosing the horses and sheep, and tying upthe oxen.
By this arrangement the cattle would not be exhausted with their labor,and they would have time to follow the object of their journey--that ofhunting the wild animals with which the country abounded, and also ofprocuring a constant supply of food for themselves and their attendants.
Having now traveled as far as they wished, they stopped at the foot of arising ground, about a quarter of a mile from the river's bank, andwhich was on the outskirts of a large clump of mimosa and other trees.As soon as the cattle were unyoked and had gone down to the river todrink, our travelers ordered their horses to be saddled, and as thebanks of the river on that side were low, they rode up to the risingground to view the country beyond, and to ascertain what game might bein sight.
When they arrived at the summit, and were threading their way throughthe trees, Omrah pointed to a broken branch, and said, "Elephant herenot long ago."
Bremen said that Omrah was right, and that the animals could not haveleft more than a week, and that probably they had followed the course ofthe stream. The print of another foot was observed by Omrah, and hepointed it out; but not knowing the name to give the animal in Englishor Dutch, he imitated its motions.
"Does he mean a gnoo?" said Alexander.
Omrah shook his head, and, raising his hands up, motioned that theanimal was twice as big.
"Come here, Bremen; what print of a hoof is this?" said Swinton.
"Buffalo, sir,--fresh print--was here last night."
"That's an animal that I am anxious to slay," said the Major.
"You must be very careful that he does not slay _you_," replied Swinton;"for it is a most dangerous beast, almost as much so as a lion."
"Well, we must not return without one, at all events," said Alexander;"nor without a lion also, as soon as we can find one alone; but those wehave seen in the daytime have always been in threes and fours, and Ithink the odds too great with our party; but the first single lion wefall in with, I vote we try for his skin."
"Agreed," replied the Major; "what do you say, Swinton?"
"Why, I say agreed also; but as I came here to look for other thingsrather than lions, I should say, as far as I am concerned, that the bestpart of valor would be discretion. However, depend upon it, if you goafter a lion I shall be with you: I have often been at the destructionof them when with Dutch boors; but then recollect we have no horses tospare, and therefore we must not exactly follow their method."
"How do they hunt the lions, then?" inquired Alexander.
"They hunt them more for self-defense than for pleasure," repliedSwinton; "but on the outskirts of the colony the lions are sodestructive to the herds, that the colonists must destroy them. Theygenerally go out, ten or twelve of them, with their long guns, not fewerif possible; and you must recollect that these boors are not only verycool, brave men, but most excellent shots. I fear you will not find thatnumber among our present party, as, with the exception of our threeselves and Breman and Swanevelt, I do not believe that there is one manhere who would face a lion; so that when we do attack one, it will be ata disadvantage.
"The Dutch boors, as soon as they have ascertained where the lion lies,approach the bushes to within a moderate distance, and then alighting,they make all their horses fast together with their bridles andhalters. In this there is danger, as sometimes the lion will spring outupon them at once, and, if so, probably not only horses but men aresacrificed. If the lion remains quiet, which is usually the case, theyadvance toward him within thirty paces or thereabouts, as they know thathe generally makes a spring at half that distance; but as they advance,they back their horses toward him, as a shield in front of them, knowingthat the lion will spring upon the horses.
"As they move forward, the lion at first looks at them very calmly, andvery often wags his tail as if in a playful humor; but when theyapproach nearer, he growls, as if to warn them off. Then, as theycontinue to approach, he gradually draws up his hind legs under hisbody, ready for a spring at them as soon as they are within distance,and you see nothing of him except his bristling mane and his eyesglaring like fire; for he is then fully enraged, and in the act ofspringing the next moment.
"This is the critical moment, and the signal is given for half the partyto fire. If they are not successful in laying him dead on the spot withthis first volley, he springs like a thunderbolt upon the horses. Theremainder of the party then fire, and seldom fail to put an end to him;but generally one or more of the horses are either killed or so woundedas to be destroyed in consequence; and sometimes, although rarely, oneor more of the hunters share the same fate. So you observe that, withevery advantage, it is a service of danger, and therefore should not beundertaken without due precaution."
"Very true, Swinton; but it will never do to return to the Cape withouthaving killed a lion."
"As you please; but even that would be better than being killed yourselfby a lion, and not returning at all. However, my opinion is that youwill have to kill a lion before you have traveled much further, withoutgoing in quest of him. There are hundreds of them here; as many as thereare in Namaqua-land."
"Look, master!" said Bremen, pointing to seven or eight splendidantelopes about a mile distant.
"I see," replied the Major. "What are they?"
"Gemsbok," said Swinton. "Now I will thank you for a specimen of thatbeautiful creature, if you can get it for me. We must dismount, leaveour horses here, and crawl along from tree to tree, and bush to bush,till we get within shot."
"They are, indeed, noble animals. Look at that large male, which appearsto be the leader and master of the herd. What splendid horns!" criedAlexander.
"Give the horses to Omrah and Swanevelt. Bremen shall go with us. Hist;not a word; they are looking in this direction." said the Major.
"Recollect to try for the large male. I want him most particularly,"said Swinton.
"Master," said Bremen, "We must creep till we get those bushes betweenus and the game. Then we can crawl through the bushes and get a goodshot."
"Yes, that will be the best plan," said Swinton. "As softly as we can,for they are very shy animals."
They followed one another for two or three hundred yards, creeping fromone covert to another, till they had placed the bushes on the plainbetween them and the herd. They then stopped a little and reconnoitered.The herd of antelopes had left off feeding, and now had all their headsturned toward the bushes, and in the direction where they wereconcealed; the large male rather in advance of the others, with his longhorns pointing forward, and his nose close to the ground. Our party keptsilence for some time, watching the animals; but none of t
hem moved muchfrom their positions; and as for the male, he remained as if he were astatue.
"They must have scented us," whispered Alexander.
"No, sir," said Bremen; "the wind blows from them to us. I can't thinkwhat they are about. But perhaps they may have seen us."
"At all events, we shall gain nothing by remaining here; we shall bemore concealed as we descend and approach them," observed the Major.
"That is true; so come along. Creep like mice," said Swinton.
They did so, and at last arrived at the patch of brushwood which wasbetween them and the antelopes, and were now peeping and creeping tofind out an opening to fire through, when they heard a rustling within.Bremen touched the sleeve of the Major and beckoned a retreat, andmotioned to the others; but before they could decide, as they did notknow why the Hottentot proposed it, for he did not speak himself, andput his hand to his mouth as a hint to them to be silent, a roar likethunder came from the bushes, within three yards of them, accompaniedwith a rushing noise which could not be mistaken. It was the roar andspring of the lion; and they looked round amazed and stunned, toascertain who was the victim.
"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed Alexander, "and no one hurt!"
"No, master; lion spring at antelope. Now we shall find him on otherside of the bush, and kill him easy, when his eyes are shut."
Bremen led the way round the copse, followed by our travelers; they soonarrived on the other side of it, with their guns all ready; but on theirarrival, to their astonishment they perceived the lion and the malegemsbok lying together. The antelope was dead, but the lion still alive;though the horns of the gemsbok had passed through his body. At thesight of the hunters, the lion, pierced through as he was, raised hishead with a loud roar, and struck out with his paw, as he twisted towardthem, his eyes glowing like hot coals, and showing his tremendous fangs.Alexander was the first who fired, and the ball penetrating the brain ofthe noble animal, it fell down dead upon the body of the antelope.
"This is the finest sight I ever witnessed," observed Swinton. "I haveheard that the gemsboks' horns are sometimes fatal to the lion, but Icould hardly credit it. They have passed nearly through his body; thepoints are under the skin."
"Now we know, master, why gemsbok have his nose to the ground and hishorn pointed," said Bremen; "he saw the lion, and fought him to save hisherd."
"I am quite stunned yet," observed Alexander. "What a noble animal itis! Well, at all events I can say that I have shot a lion, which ismore than you can, Major."
"I only wish that when I shoot one I may have no more danger to incur,"replied the Major. "What a different idea does one have of a lion in amenagerie and one in its free and native state. Why, the menagerie lionscan't roar at all; they are nothing but overgrown cats, compared to thelion of the desert."
"That is very true," observed Swinton; "however, I am delighted, for nowI have not only my gemsbok, which is a gem above price, but also as finea lion as I have ever seen. I should like to have them stuffed and setup just as they were before Alexander killed them. His rage and agonycombined were most magnificent. After all, the lion is the king of thebeasts. Bremen, send Swanevelt to the caravan for some of the men. Imust have both skin and skeleton of the antelope, and the skin of thelion."
Our travelers were quite satisfied with the sport of the day, and afterwaiting for some time, while the Hottentots disentangled the animals andtook off the skins, they returned to the caravan, Omrah having secured aportion of the flesh of the gemsbok for their supper.
As they were returning, they observed a herd of buffaloes at a greatdistance, and proposed to themselves the hunting of them after they hadhalted on the following day, if the animals were at any reasonabledistance from them. At supper the flesh of the antelope was pronouncedbetter than that of the gnoo; and after supper, as soon as the cattlehad been all secured, and the fires lighted, Alexander proposed thatSwinton should finish his history of Africaner.
"If I remember right, I left off where Africaner and his people hadescaped to Namaqua-land, where he became a chief. Attempts were made totake him prisoner and bring him to the colony, but without success.Expedition after expedition failed, and Africaner dared them to approachhis territories. At last, the colonists had recourse to the Griquas, andoffered them a large reward if they would bring Africaner in.
"The Griquas, commanded by a celebrated chief of the name of Berend,made several attempts, and in consequence a cruel war was carried onbetween Berend and Africaner, in which neither party gained theadvantage. Africaner, discovering that the colonists had bribed Berendto make war against him, now turned his wrath against them. A Dutch boorfell a victim to his fury, and he carried off large quantities of theircattle, and eventually Africaner became the terror of the colony. Thenatives also who resided in Namaqua-land commenced depredations uponAfricaner, but he repaid them with such interest that at last everytribe fled at his approach, and his name carried dismay into theirsolitary wastes. The courage and intrepidity shown by Africaner and hisbrothers in their various combats were most remarkable; but to narrateall his adventures would occupy too much time. It is certain that he notonly became dreaded, but in consequence of his forbearance on severaloccasions he was respected.
"It was in 1810 that the missionaries came into the Namaqua-land, and itunfortunately happened that a dispute arose about some of Africaner'sproperty which was seized, and at the same time Africaner lost somecattle. The parties who were at variance with Africaner lived near tothe Mission station, and very unwisely the people at the Mission stationwere permitted to go to their assistance.
"This roused the anger of Africaner, who vowed vengeance on the Missionand the people collected around it or connected with it. As Africanerhad commenced his attacks upon the Namaquas, and was advancing towardthe mission, the missionaries were compelled to abandon the station andreturn to the colony. The Mission station was soon afterward takenpossession of by Africaner, and the houses burned to the ground.
"A curious circumstance occurred during this affair: his followers wereseeking everywhere for plunder, when some of them entered the burialground, and one of them, treading on an apparently new made grave, wasastonished by soft notes of music proceeding from the ground beneath.
"Superstitious as the natives are, and having most of them, in formerdays, heard something of the Christian doctrines, they started and stoodtransfixed with astonishment, expecting the dead to arise, as they hadbeen once told. One of them mustered courage to put his foot again uponthe spot, and the reply was soft and musical as before. Away they allstarted to Africaner, to inform him that there was life and music in thegrave.
"The chief, who feared neither the living nor the dead, went to theburial-ground with his men, and jumped upon the spot, which immediatelygave out the soft note as before. Africaner ordered an immediateexhumation, when the source of the mystery proved to be the piano-forteof the missionary's wife, which being too cumbrous an article to takeaway, had been buried there, with the hope of being one day able torecover it. Never having seen such an instrument before, Africaner hadit dissected for the sake of the brass wires; and thus the piano wasdestroyed."
"I doubt if it would ever have been dug up in Caffreland," observedAlexander.
"I am convinced it never would have been, but have remained as a wonderand object of fear as long as it held together," replied Swinton; "butto proceed--
"The Mission station having been for some time broken up by this attackof Africaner, Mr. C., a missionary, anxious to restore it, wrote aletter to Africaner on the subject, and received a favorable reply, anda Mr. E. was sent to the residence of Africaner himself. After a shorttime, Africaner and his two brothers, with a number of others, werebaptized.
"At first it must be admitted that their profession of Christianity didnot greatly improve their conduct; but this was very much to be ascribedto the circumstance that the duties of the station had devolved upon onewho ought not to have been selected for the task. Upon his removal, anda more fitt
ing minister of the Gospel taking his place, a great changewas soon observable in Africaner; and, from having been one of the mostremorseless pursuers of his vengeance--a firebrand spreading discord,war and animosity among the neighboring tribes--he would now make everyconcession and any sacrifice to prevent collision and bloodshed betweencontending parties.
"Although his power was so great that he might have raised his arm anddared them to lift a spear or draw a bow, he would entreat them as asuppliant to be reconciled.
"'Look at me,' he would say, 'how many battles have I fought; how muchcattle have I taken; but what has it done for me, but make me full ofshame and sorrow?'
"In short, from that time till he died, he became a peacemaker and aChristian, both in word and deed. His whole life was devoted to acts ofkindness and charity--to instructing and exhorting, and following theprecepts of Him in whose faith eventually he lived and died."
"Well, Swinton, you have indeed given us a remarkable proof that themissionary labors are not always thrown away, and we thank you for yourcompliance with our request."
"It is a remarkable instance, if you only consider how many hundreds oflives might have been sacrificed, if Africaner had continued his careerof slaughter and of plunder; and how many lives, I may add, have beenalso saved by his interference as a peacemaker, instead of being, as heformerly was, a promoter of war and bloodshed."
"Swinton," said Alexander, "I wanted to ask you a question which I hadnearly forgotten. Do you recollect what Bremen said to us, that the lionhad seized the gemsbok, and that now the lion would shut his eyes, andthat he would shoot him?"
"Yes, I do; and he was correct in what he stated, for I have witnessedit myself. When a lion seizes a large animal like an ox or horse, or theanimal he fell a martyr to this afternoon, he springs upon it, seizes itby the throat with his terrible fangs, and holds it down with his pawstill it expires. From the moment the lion seizes his prey, he shuts hiseyes, and never opens them again until the life of his prey is extinct.I remember a Hottentot, when a lion had seized an ox in this way,running up to him with his gun and firing within a few yards' distance.The lion, however, did not deign to notice the report of the gun, butcontinued to hold fast his prey. The Hottentot loaded again, fired, andagain missed; reloaded again, and then shot the lion through the head."
"How very strange!"
"It is, and I can not give any reason for it; but that it is so, I wellknow to be a fact. Perhaps it may be that the animal, after longfasting, is quite absorbed with the grateful taste of the blood flowinginto his mouth, while the animal is writhing under his clutches. Butthere are many singular points about the lion, which is a much morenoble and intelligent animal than most people have any idea of; I havecollected a number of facts relative to his majesty which would surpriseyou. The Bushmen know the animal and his habits so well, that theyseldom come to any accident from their inhabiting a country in which Ireally believe the population of lions exceeds that of Bushmen."
"Is it true that the lion, as well as other animals, is afraid of theeye of man?" said the Major; "can you reply to that question?"
"Yes, I can," answered Swinton; "I was about to say that he is and isnot, but a better answer will be to give you what has come to myknowledge: I consider that the lion is a much more dangerous animal inthis country, and indeed in any other where there are no firearms, thanwhere the occupants are possessed of them.
"It may appear strange, but it is my fixed opinion, that the lion has anidea of the deadly nature of firearms, and that he becomes inconsequence more afraid of man. You remember a story I told you of alion watching a man for two days without destroying him, but neverpermitting him to lay hold of his gun. Now it is satisfactorily provedthat a lion will pass a man who has a gun in his hand without attackinghim, provided that he does not attempt to level the gun; but the momentthat he does he will spring upon him.
"An instance of that occurred to the great lion-hunter Diedrich Muller,who mentioned it to me. He had been alone hunting in the wilds, when hecame suddenly upon a large lion, which, instead of giving way as theyusually do, seemed disposed, from the angry attitude which he assumed,to dispute his progress.
"Muller instantly alighted, and, confident of his unerring aim, leveledhis gun at the forehead of the lion, which had crouched in the act tospring, within sixteen paces of him; but as he fired, his horse, whosebridle was round his arm, started back, and, jerking him aside, causedhim to miss; the lion bounded forward, but stopped within a few paces,confronting Muller, who stood defenseless, as his gun was discharged,and his horse had galloped off.
"The man and the beast stood looking each other in the face for a shorttime. At length the lion moved backward, as if to go away. Muller beganloading his gun; the lion looked over his shoulder, growled, andimmediately returned to his former position within a few paces ofMuller. Muller stood still, with his eyes fixed on the animal. The lionagain moved cautiously off; when he was at a certain distance, Mullerproceeded to ram down his bullet. The lion again looked back and growledangrily. Muller again was quiet, and the animal continued turning andgrowling as it moved off, till at last it bounded away."
"You imagine then, that the lion is aware of the fatal effects offire-arms?" said the Major.
"It would appear so, not only on account of their being so angry ifpresented at them, or being touched even when they are close to them,but also from the greater respect the lion pays to man where fire-armsare in use. The respect that he pays to men in the colony is not ageneral custom of the animal.
"As I said before, the lion is more dangerous in this Bushman country;because, in the first place, his awe of man has been removed, from hisinvariably successful encounters with those who have no weapons offorce with which to oppose him; and, secondly, because he has but toooften tasted human flesh, after which a lion becomes more partial to itthan any other food.
"It is asserted, that when a lion has once succeeded in snatching someunfortunate Bushman from his cave, he never fails to return regularlyevery night, in hopes of another meal, until the horde is so harassedthat they are compelled to seek some other shelter. From apprehension ofsuch attacks, it is also asserted that the Bushmen are in the habit ofplacing their aged and infirm people at the entrance of the cave duringthe night, that, should the lion come, the least valuable and mostuseless of their community may first fall a prey to the animal."
"Of course, if permitted to help himself in that way, the lion can nothave much fear of man," observed Wilmot; "and his lurking abroad in thenight takes away much from the nobleness of disposition which you areinclined to attribute to him."
"By no means," continued Swinton. "That a lion generally lurks and liesin wait to seize his prey is certain, but this is the generalcharacteristic of the feline tribe, of which he may be considered as thehead; and it is for this mode of hunting that nature has fitted him.
"The wolf, the hound, and others, are furnished with an acute scent, andare enabled to tire down their prey by a long chase. The feline tribeare capable of very extraordinary efforts of activity and speed for avery short time; if they fail to seize their prey at the first spring,or after a few tremendous bounds, they generally abandon the pursuit.
"The lion can spring from nine to twelve yards at a leap, and for a fewseconds can repeat these bounds with such activity and velocity as tooutstrip the movements of the quickest horse; but he can not continuethese amazing efforts and does not attempt it. In fact, the lion is nomore than a gigantic cat, and he must live by obtaining his prey in thesame manner as a cat.
"In these countries, his prey is chiefly of the antelope species, theswiftest animals on earth; and what chance would he have, if he were togive one of his magnanimous roars to announce his approach? He knows hisbusiness better; he crouches in the rank grass and reeds by the sides ofthe paths made by the animals to descend to the rivers and pools todrink, and as they pass he makes his spring upon them.
"Now I do not consider that his obtaining his food as nature haspoi
nted out to him is any argument against what I consider the reallynoble disposition of the lion, which is, that he does not kill for merecruelty, and that he is really generous, unless compelled by hunger todestroy, as I have already shown by one or two examples."
"We are convinced, my dear Swinton," said Alexander; "but now let ushave your opinion as to his being afraid to meet the eye of man."
"I consider that the lion will generally retreat before the presence ofman; but he does not retreat cowardly, like the leopard or hyena, andothers. He never slinks away, he appears calmly to survey his opponent,as apparently measuring his prowess. I should say that the lion seems tohave a secret impression that man is not his natural prey, and althoughhe will not always give place to him, he will not attack him, if, in thefirst place, the man shows no sign of fear, and in the second, no signsof hostility.
"But this instinctive deference to man is not to be reckoned upon. Hemay be very angry, he may be very hungry, he may have been justdisappointed in taking his prey, or he may be accompanied by the femaleand cubs; in short, the animal's temper may have been ruffled, and inthis case he becomes dangerous.
"An old Namaqua chief with whom I was conversing, and who had beenaccustomed to lions from childhood, fully corroborated these opinions,and also that there is that in the eye of man before which the lionquails. He assured me that the lion very seldom attacks a man, if notprovoked; but he will approach him within a few paces and survey himsteadily. Sometimes he attempts to get behind him, as if he could notstand his look, but was desirous of springing upon him unawares. Hesaid, that if a man in such a case attempted to fly, he would run thegreatest danger, but that if he had presence of mind to confront theanimal, it would in almost every instance after a short time retire.
"Now I have already brought forward the instance of Muller and the lion,as a proof of the effect of a man's eye upon the lion. I will now giveanother, still more convincing, as the contact was still closer, andthe lion had even tasted blood.
"A boor of the name of Gyt was out with one of his neighbors hunting.Coming to a fountain, surrounded as usual with tall reeds and rushes,Gyt gave his gun to his comrade, and alighted to see if there was anywater remaining in it; but as he approached the fountain, an enormouslion started up close at his side, and seized him by the left arm. Gyt,although thus taken by surprise, stood motionless and withoutstruggling, for he was aware that the least attempt to escape wouldoccasion his immediate destruction. The animal also remained motionless,holding Gyt fast by the arm with his fangs, but without biting itseverely, at the same time shutting his eyes, as if he could notwithstand the eyes of his victim fixed upon him."
"What a terrible position!"
"Yes; but I may here observe that the lion was induced to seize the manin consequence of their coming so completely in contact, and, as itwere, for self-defense. Had they been further apart, the lion would, asusually is the case, have walked away; and, moreover, the eye of the manbeing so close to him had, at the same time, more power over the lion,so as to induce him to shut his own. But to continue--
"As they stood in this position, Gyt recovered his presence of mind, andbeckoned to his comrade to advance with his gun and shoot the lionthrough the head. This might easily have been done, as the animalcontinued still with his eyes closed, and Gyt's body concealed anyobject approaching. But his comrade was a cowardly scoundrel, and,instead of coming to Gyt's assistance, he cautiously crawled up a rockto secure himself from any danger. For a long while Gyt continuedearnestly to entreat his comrade by signs to come to his assistance--thelion continuing all this while perfectly quiet--but in vain."
"How my blood boils at the conduct of this scoundrel," said the Major;"admitting his first impulse to have been fear, yet to allow his comradeto remain in that position so long a while covers him with infamy."
"I think if Gyt escaped, he must have felt very much inclined to shootthe wretch himself."
"The lion-hunters affirm that, if Gyt had but persevered a littlelonger, the animal would have at last released his hold and left Gytuninjured; that the grip of the lion was more from fear that the manwould hurt him, than from any wish to hurt the man; and such is myopinion. But Gyt, indignant at the cowardice of his comrade, and losingpatience with the lion, at last drew his hunting-knife, which all theboors invariably carry at their side, and with all the power of hisright arm thrust it into the lion's breast.
"The thrust was a deadly one, for it was aimed with judgment, and Gytwas a bold and powerful man; but it did not prove effectual so as tosave Gyt's life, for the enraged lion, striving in his death agonies tograpple with Gyt,--held at arm's length by the strength of desperationon the part of the boor,--so dreadfully lacerated with his talons thebreast and arms of poor Gyt, that his bones were left bare.
"At last the lion fell dead, and Gyt fell with him. His cowardlycompanion, who had witnessed this fearful struggle from the rock, nowtook courage to advance, and carried the mangled body of Gyt to thenearest house. Medical aid was at hand, but vainly applied, as on thethird day, he died of a locked jaw. Such was the tragical end of thisrencounter, from the sheer cowardice of Gyt's companion.
"I could mention many other instances in which lions have had men intheir power and have not injured them, if they have neither attempted toescape nor to assault; but I think I have given enough already, not onlyto prove the fact of his general forbearance toward man, but also thatthere is something in the eye of man at which the lion and otheranimals, I believe, will quail."
"I can myself give an instance that this fascinating effect, or whateverit may be, of the human eye, is not confined wholly to the lion," saidthe Major.
"One of our officers in India, having once rambled into a jungleadjoining the British encampment, suddenly encountered a Bengal tiger.The meeting was evidently most unexpected on both sides, and bothparties made a dead halt, earnestly gazing at each other. The officerhad no fire-arms with him, although he had his regulation sword by hisside; but that he knew would be of no defense if he had to struggle forlife with such a fearful antagonist. He was, however, a man of undauntedcourage, and he had heard that even a Bengal tiger might be checked bylooking him steadily in the face.
"His only artillery being, like a lady's, that of his eyes, he directedthem point blank at the tiger. He would have infinitely preferred arifle, as he was not at all sure but that his eyes might miss fire.However, after a few minutes, during which the tiger had been crouchedready for his spring, the animal appeared disturbed and irresolute,slunk on one side, and then attempted to crawl round behind the officer.
"This, of course, the officer would not permit, and he turned to thetiger as the tiger turned, with the same constancy that, Tom Moore says,the 'sunflower turns to the sun.'
"The tiger then darted into the thicket, and tried to catch him bycoming suddenly upon him from another quarter, and taking him bysurprise; but our officer was wide awake, as you may suppose, and thetiger, finding that it was no go, at last went off himself, and theofficer immediately went off too, as fast as he could, to theencampment."
"I am glad to have heard your narrative, Major," replied Swinton; "formany doubts have been thrown upon the question of the power of the humaneye, and your opinion is a very corroborative one."
"Do not you imagine that the lion-tamers who exhibit in Europe havetaken advantage of this peculiar fact?"
"I have no doubt but that it is one of their great helps; but I thinkthat they resort to other means, which have increased the instinctivefear that the animals have of them. I have witnessed these exhibitions,and always observed that the man never for a moment took his eyes offthe animal which he was playing with or commanding.
"I have observed that also; but what are the other means to which youallude?"
"I can not positively say, but I can only express an opinion. The mostpainful and most stunning effects of a blow upon any part of the body,not only of man but of brutes, is a blow on the nose. Many animals, suchas the seal and others, are killed
by it immediately, and there is nodoubt but a severe blow on that tender part will paralyze almost anybeast for the time and give him a dread for the future. I believe thatrepeated blows upon the nose will go further than any other means tobreak the courage of any beast, and I imagine that these are resortedto: but it is only my opinion, recollect, and it must be taken for justas much as it is worth."
"Do not you think that animals may be tamed by kindness, if you canproduce in them the necessary proportion of love and fear?"
"Yes, I was about to say every animal, but I believe some must beexcepted; and this is from their having so great a fear of man, ratherthan from any other cause. If their fear could be overcome, they mightbe tamed. Of course there are some animals which have not sufficientreasoning power to admit of their being tamed; for instance, who wouldever think of taming a scorpion?"
"I believe that there is one animal which, although taken as a cub, hasresisted every attempt to tame it in the slightest degree,--this is thegrizzly bear of North America."
"I have heard so too," replied Swinton; "at all events, up to thepresent time they have been unsuccessful. It is an animal of mostunamiable disposition, that is certain; and I would rather encounter tenlions, if all that they say of it is true. But it is time for us to goto bed. Those fires are getting rather low. Who has the watch?"
The Major rose and walked round to find the Hottentot who was on thatduty, and found him fast asleep. After sundry kicks in the ribs, thefellow at last woke up.
"Is it your watch?"
"Yaw, Mynher," replied Big Adam, rolling out of his kaross.
"Well, then, you keep it so well, that you will have no tobacco nexttime it is served out."
"Gentlemen all awake and keep watch, so I go to sleep a little," repliedAdam, getting up on his legs.
"Look to your fires, sir," replied the Major, walking to his wagon.