A famed English explorer was invited to a meeting at Oxford University to tell of his adventures in the African jungle. Не dives into his speech and challenges his audience by saying

A famed English explorer was invited to a meeting at Oxford University to tell of his adventures in the African jungle.

He dives into his speech and challenges his audience by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, in my years exploring the wild, I have survived dangers you could hardly imagine! But one event stands above the rest… the time I was nearly eaten by a ferocious lion!"

The room falls silent.

The explorer continues, "I was trekking alone, deep in the jungle, when suddenly—a mighty lion appeared from the tall grass! His golden mane shimmered in the sun, and his eyes locked onto me. I knew I was in trouble."

A student in the front row leans forward, wide-eyed. "What did you do, sir?"

The explorer pounds his chest. "I did what any brave man would do—I ran! Faster than I have ever run in my life!"

The audience gasps.

"But the lion chased me! I could hear his mighty paws thundering behind me, his breath hot on my neck. I ran and ran until—disaster! I tripped over a tree root and fell flat on my face!"

A professor in the back mutters, "Oh dear…"

The explorer nods grimly. "I turned over and saw the lion leaping toward me! I thought I was finished. But just as his claws were about to sink into my flesh—"

The audience leans in.

"—he suddenly slipped on a pile of elephant dung and skidded right past me!"

The entire room erupts in laughter.

A skeptical student raises his hand. "Sir, I don’t mean to doubt you… but if that was truly the most terrifying moment of your life, I’m surprised you didn’t soil yourself!"

The explorer grins.

"My dear boy, what do you think the lion slipped on?"