[A Tale.]
(From Sir James E. Alexander’s “Expedition of Discovery into the
Interior of Africa,” vol. ii. p. 51.)
A Bushman was, on one occasion, following a troop of zebras, and had
just succeeded in wounding one with his arrows, when a Lion sprang out
from a thicket opposite, and showed every inclination to dispute the
prize with him. The Bushman being near a convenient tree, threw down
his arms, and climbed for safety to an upper branch. The Lion, allowing
the wounded zebra to pass on, now turned his whole attention towards
the Bushman, and walking round and round the tree, he ever and anon
growled and looked up at him. At length the Lion lay down at the foot
of the tree, and kept watch all night. Towards morning sleep overcame
the hitherto wakeful Bushman, and he dreamt that he had fallen into the
Lion’s mouth. Starting from the effects of his dream, he lost his hold,
and, falling from the branch, he alighted heavily on the Lion; on which
the monster, thus unexpectedly saluted, ran off with a loud roar, and
the Bushman, also taking to his heels in a different direction, escaped
in safety.