Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-11-24

party appeared ready mounted and arm
ed, We were also reinforced by about
q dozen ofyhe Bastard Hottentots, who
resided at tkat time upon our territory
as tenants or herdsmen.
The first point was to track the Lion
TO his covert. This was effected by a
few of the Hottentots on foot; COM
mencing from the spot where the horse
was killed, they followed through grass
and gravel and brushwood, with aston
ishing ease and dexterity, where an in
experienced eye could discern neither
footprint nor mark Of any kind, until
at length we fairly tracked him into
struggling thicket Of brushwood and ey-
ergreens about mile distant.
The. next object was to drive him
out of this retreat, in order to attack
him IN close phalanx, and with more
safety and effect. The improved mode
in such cases is to torment him with
dogs till he ahahdons bis covert, and
stands at bay in the open plain. The
whole band of hunters then marched
forward together and fred deliber ately
one by one.
The Bastards finding that the few in
different hounds we had. made little i'm
preston on the enemy, divided them
selves into two or three parties, and
rode around the jungle, firing into the
spot where the dogs were barking
round him, but without effect At
length, after some hours spent in thus
beating about the bush, the Scottish
blood of some of my, countrymen began
TO get impatient, and three of them
wentto within fifteen or twenty PAGES
Of the spot where the animal lay con-
cealed. They fancled, on approach
ing, that they saw him distinctly. They
let Fly together, and s,ruck-not the
Lion Gas it afterwards proved) but a
great block Of red stone-beyond which
he was actually lying. With no other
warning than furious growl, forth he
bolted from the bush. The rascaIly
Bastards instantly turned, and fed he'll
ter SHELTER, leaving him TO do his pleas
ure upon the defenceless Scots. In
swinkling he was upon them, and with
one stroke Of his paw dashed the near
est to the ground. The scene was ter
rife. There stood the Lion with bis
foot upon his PROSTATE foe, looking
round in conscious power and pride up
on the bands Of assailants, and with
port the most noble and imposing that
can be conceived.-It was the most mag
nifcenl thing ever witnessed. The
danger Of our friends, however, render
ed it at the moment too terrible TO en-.
JOY either the grand or the ludicrous
part of the picture. We expected every
instantt to see one or more of them torn
in pieces; nor though band Of US
standing within Fifty PAGES, with our
guns cooked and IeVelIed, burst we fire
for their assistance. One was lying
under the Lions feet-and the others
ecrambling towards US in such a way as
TO intercept our aim upon him. All
this passed far moreG;rapldIy, than |
have described it. But s1uckilysthe Lii
on, after steadily surveying US for few
seconds, turned calmly away, and driv-
ing the snarIing' dogs like rats from a.
mong his heels, bounded over the ad-
joining thicket like cat over foot
stool, clearing brakes and bushes 12 OF
Is feet high as readily as if they had
been tufts of grass, and abandoning the
Jungle, retreated towards the mountain.
After ascertaining the state of our
rescued comrade (who fortunately had
sustained no other injury than slight
scratch on the back and a severe bruise
10 the ribs, from the force with which
the animal had dashed him to the
ground) we renewed the chase with
Hottentots and hounds 10 full cry. 10 a
short time we again came up with the
enemy, and found him standing at bay
under an old tree. The dogs were
barking round, but afraid to approach
him, for he was now beginning to growl
fercely, and to brandsh his tail in a
manner to show that he was meditating
mischief. The Hottentots, by taking
circuit between him and the mountain,
crossed the stream and took posItion
on the top of a precipice overlooking
the spot where he stosd. AnotheERar.
ty of US occupied a position on the oths
er side Of the glen; and, placing the
poor fellow thus between two fires,
which confused his attention and pre-
rented bis retreat, we kept battering
away at him, without truce or mercy
till he was covered with wounds and
glory.
He proved to be a full grown Lion Of
the yellow variety, about five or six
years of age. He measured nearly
twelve feet from the nose to the tip of
the tail. His fore leg just above the
knee was so thick that could not clasp
it with both hands, and his neck, breast
and limbs appeared, when the skin was
H.