She was almost upon me. I saw that in a moment she would

take me under her forepaws, or seize me in those great jaws.

I felt that my time had come, but I meant to die fighting.

And so I turned, and, treading water, raised my rifle above

my head and awaited her.

Victory, animated by a bravery no less ferocious than that

of the dumb beast assailing us, swam straight for me. It

all happened so swiftly that I cannot recall the details of

the kaleidoscopic action which ensued. I knew that I rose

high out of the water, and, with clubbed rifle, dealt the

animal a terrific blow upon the skull, that I saw Victory,

her long blade flashing in her hand, close, striking, upon

the beast, that a great paw fell upon her shoulder, and that

I was swept beneath the surface of the water like a straw

before the prow of a freighter.

Still clinging to my rifle, I rose again, to see the lioness

struggling in her death throes but an arm's length from me.

Scarcely had I risen than the beast turned upon her side,

struggled frantically for an instant, and then sank.