Higgs wheeled round, and wildly fired the left barrel of his rifle without touching the infuriated brute.

Next instant, to our horror, we saw him upon his back, with the lioness standing over him, lashing her tail, and growling.
We shouted as we ran, and so did the Zeus, although they made no attempt at rescue, with the result that the lioness, instead of tearing Higgs to pieces, turned her head confusedly first to one side and then to the other.

By now I, who had a long start of Orme, was quite close, say within thirty yards, though fire I dared not as yet, fearing lest, should I do so, I might kill my friend.

At this moment the lioness, recovering her nerves, squatted down on the prostrate Higgs, and though he hit at her with his fists, dropped her muzzle, evidently with the intention of biting him through the head.
Now I felt that if I hesitated any more, all would be finished.

The lioness was much longer than Higgs--a short, stout man--and her hind quarters projected beyond his feet.