The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-07-19

expected no less but thought as sent You an
account OF my accident, you would have been bets
ter prepared TO anticipate the change in my perso~
nal appearances. far
Accident! never heard of any,I have received
no letter from you these two years
Then my epistes have gone astray, that's all.
But as they have done so, l will tell you how the
affair took place that is 10 say, if you wish to
hear it,
expressed my desire to do SO, and he repeated
to me tho following circumstances, which give
nearly in his own language possible.
Il was quartered high up the country, command
ing detachment, at least so miles from any 9TH
er European My only recreation was lion hunt
Jog, which occasionally indnlged in, and
ceeded in destroying several of these superb ami
mails, which were then numerous and bold,
! as often to approach our tents and carry off
provisions.
81 was thus amusing myself one morning, we'll
| mounted fleet Arab, followed by dozen
men on foot, and armed with unerring rifle,
when one of my people suddenly discovered the
prints Of lions paw in the sandy plain over which
we were passing, apparently inclined towards
deep jungle some two hundred yards in advance Of
| us. instantly dsmounted 10 examine the foot
marks, and was carefully tracing them, when a
| sudden cry of horror made me look up. did so,
| and behed Immediately in front of me magnif
cent loness, which had suddenly bound out OF he
| covert. Not moment was to be lost [ sprang
towards my borse my Syce, alarm ed by the ap
pearance Of the queen of beasts, had quilted the
rein, and before could reach him The frightened
animal was half across the open space. My
wants had fed | alone. The Iioness was
flashing her sides with her tail she was evidently
meditating attack. had but resource lett.
| After vainy calling my servants to return and
support me, ] ievclled my life, and Just she
rushed forward, fired. For single instant was
not quite whether had hit her not. She
suddenly halted threw up her head, and gave a
terrific roar | was now convinced she was woun
ded ; bnt, alas seemingly not in mortal part
She giarcd on me. Human nature could stand no
more. threw away my gun, and fooshly over
come with fear, fed In another second was con
scIous Of my heard her painting
along close TO 1t was all with me, !
knew my fate was sealed. ] threw myself down;
the loness actually, in her haste TO over,nke me,
sriang over me. I heard n shot, and piercing
cry from the animal told me she was again hit
but did not once dare TO look up see how seri
ousy
/ AFTER about half minute, I could not resist the
| j j
slightly turned my head only the least in life, and
beheld The lioness licking her paw, through which
a ball had evidently passed tho blood flowing
copionsly from her jaw, where my discharge had
in the first instance taken effect She was sitting
upon her launches in evident agony. No sooner,
however, did she perceive the very slight move
ment which had made than she sprang up, and
in the next moment ielt her teeth penetrate my
| haoL hos ,.,,I g Io. oln a,
shoulder bare Of flesh in the next she lifted me
off the ground and carried me forward. This how
ever, evidently effort to her. Her woun
ded jaw refused to meet but still she held me-
screaming struggling, praying for death, tightly in
! her teeth, as she bore me with the ease with
she would have raised kitten. 1 shouted to my
servants to fire. 1t they feared to do SO lest
by accident they might destroy me instead of the
animal Alas little did they know my feelings
at that moment! Instant death, "A release from The
exciuciating tortures I was then suffering, would
have been the greatest favor they could have con
! ierred sFaae.
| THUS was carried for about hundred yards
| when overcome by pain the lioness dropped me,
and lying down, began to lick the blood which
sreamed from my wounds. could feel her rough
tongue passed along the bitten parts, and tore
open the tooth marks. [ could feel her warm
breath she placed her mouth 10 my aceratcd
shoulder. One grippe more, one single wound in
my throat, to which she was close, and knew all
would be over even attempted to turn over to
her to offer it to her jaws. She placed her paw
| upon the bare bone my shoulder, and rolled me
back, adding another, and, if possible, more
ute pang to my suffering. Again she began to suck
up my blood as lay grooming beneath her.
| sMy servants, suppose ,ra lied and alarmed her,
for she suddenly once more started upand making
her teeth NEE, in my left arm, began to drag me
| away. Great Heavens feel at this moment
the same agony then endured. In recalling the
tortures of that instant, always fancy Iagain ex
per ienced the pain she caused me, she dragged
me along, evidently bearing me towards her lair
to feed her whelps- Suffering as was, | knew
all this read my doom and shuddered at it,
Twice did the flesh break away from my arm, and
twice did she renew her savage hold ON me ~ that
so powerfully, that she succee ded in getting in
side the Jungle. Here she paused, unable from
IL