I always thought the lion was king of beasts until I heard of the following
incident involving my Tanzanian neighbors.  One evening Moses approached his hut
when a lion jumped out at him.  Hearing her husband’s cries for help, Moses’
wife Symphronia ran outside brandishing a machete.  The lion, sensing fresher
game, turned from Moses to Symphronia. Now it was Moses’ turn to scare off the
lion.  Moses’ sister Theresa with her baby in her arms joined the fray.  In the
excitement, she dropped the baby who in turn was grabbed by the predator. 
Furiously Theresa bit the foot of the lion which dropped the child and fled.