"I was caught by the shoulder and hurled to the ground. Growling terribly in my ear, the lion shook me as a dog does a rat.
"The shock produced a stupor, similar to that which seems to be felt by a mouse after the first shake of a cat.
"The lion then leaped upon one of the natives who had tried to shoot at him, and then sprang at the neck of a second native who, armed with a spear, was rushing to the rescue.
"The exertion was too much for the wounded beast, and so, with his claws bedded in the spearman's shoulder, he rolled over and died.
"I had escaped, but with a shoulder so broken as to need an artificial joint, and with eleven teeth wounds in my arm.
"These wounds were less severe than they would have been, had not a heavy jacket which I had on, cleansed the teeth of the lion in their passage. As it was, they were soon cured and gave me no trouble afterward."
Directions for Reading.—Read this lesson in a full and clear conversational tone of voice.
Those parts of the lesson to which we wish to call attention, should be read slowly.
Example.—"The men edged in closer and closer, so that the lions might be completely surrounded."