His involuntary low diet saved him from taking fever, and the finger was healing favorably, when a sudden visit in the middle of the night from a lion, that threw them all into consternation, made him, without thinking, discharge his revolver at the visitor, and the recoil hurt him more than the shot did the lion.

It rebroke his finger, and the second fracture was worse than the first.

"The Bakwains," he says, "who were most attentive to my wants during the whole journey of more than 400 miles, tried to comfort me when they saw the blood again flowing, by saying, 'You have hurt yourself, but you have redeemed us: henceforth we will only swear by you.' Poor creatures," he writes to Dr.Bennett, "I wished they had felt gratitude for the blood that was shed for their precious souls." Returning to Kuruman from this journey, in June, 1843, Livingstone was delighted to find at length a letter from the Directors of the Society authorizing the formation of a settlement in the regions beyond.

He found another letter that greatly cheered him, from a Mrs.M'Robert, the wife of art Independent minister at Cambuslang (near Blantyre), who had collected and now sent him L12 for a native agent, and was willing, on the part of some young friends, to send presents of clothing for the converts.

In acknowledging this letter, Livingstone poured out his very heart, so full was he of gratitude and delight.