Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-09

aim, the place being bushy. 'Ehey had
scarcely discharged them from their
hands. when the flame went out, and the
enrageu animal rushed towards them
with such swfftness, that had barely
time to turn the gun and fire between
| the men and the lion. ard proyitentlally
the ball struck tt e ground Immediately
under his head, as we found by examin-
alton the following morning. From this
surprise he returned, growing dreadful
! ly. The men ,lurted through some thorn
bushes with countenances Indicative of
the utmost terror. 1t was now the opin-
| ION OF all that we had betterlet him a.
lone, 1.-THE did not modest US.
Having but scanty supply of wood
ITO KEEP up fire, one man orept among
the bushes on one side of the pool, while
proceeded for the same purpose on the
other side. / had not gone far, when
looking upward to the edge of the small
basin, discerned between me and the
sky four animals, whose attention appear.
ed to be directed to me, by the noise /
made in breaking dry stick. On clio
ser, inspection. found that the large.
round. hairy-heatled visitors were hons;
aud reiterated on my hands and feet to-
wards the other side of the pool. when.
coming to my wagon-driver, to inform
him OF our danger, found him looking,
with no little alarm, ia an opposite d.
rectlen. and with good reason, as no few
er that SIX lions, with cub, were eyeine
US both, apparently as uncertain about
US as we were dIstrustful '0i'fhem. They
appeared. as they always Ito in the, dark.
twice their usual size. We thankfully
decamped to the wagon, and sat down
to keep alive our scanty fire. while We
listened to the lion tealing and devouring
his prey. When any of the other hun.
CRY lions dared to approach. he would
pursue them for some PAGES, with ior-
rible howl. which made our poor oxen
tremble, and produced anything but a
greeable Sensations in ourselves. We
had reason for alarm, lest any of the six
lions we saw, fearless of our small fire,
might rush in an,eng Us. The two Bar
oiongs were grudging sthe lion this Fat
meal, and would now and then break the
silence. with deep sigh, and express
stems oil regret that such vagabynd lion
should have such feast or their COW.
which they anticipated would have for
ded the'a many a draught of luscious
milk. Before The day dawned, having
deposited nearly the whole of the carcase
N his stomach. he collected the head.
backbone, parts of the legs, the paunch.
which he emptied of is contents. I'd the
two clubs, which had been thrown at
him, and walked off, leaving nothing. but
some fragments of bones, and one df nv
balls, which had hit t. C; rcase instead
Of himself.
When it was light we examined the
spot, and found, from the foot marks,
that the lion was large one, and had
devovred the cow himself. | had some
difficulty in believing this, but was fully
convinced by the Baroloogs pointing out
to me that the foot marks Of the other IL
ons had not come within thirty yards of
the spot. two jackas only had approach
ed to lick up any little leavings. The
men pursued the spoor to find the frag-
ments, where the lion had deposited
them, while he retired to thicket to
sleep during the day. 1 had often head
how much large hungry lion could eat.
but nothing less than demonstration
would have convinced me that it was
possible for him to have eaten all the
flesh of a good heifer. and many of the
bones. for scarcely a rib was left, and e.
ven some OF the marrow-bones were bro.
ken as if with hammer.
Much has been written about African
lions, but the half has not been told
The following trait in their character
may not be intrusive, or partaki0g of the
m irvellous, with which the tales of some
travellers are said to abound. / give I'll
as reoeiyep from men of God. and men
who had been'experienced Nimrods too.
The old lion, when in company with his
children, as the natives call them, though
they are nearly as big as himself, or
when Numbers together happen to cone
upon game. the Oldest or ablest oreeps
to the object. while the others crouch on
the grass; il he be successful, which he
generally rs. be retfres from his victim,
and lies down to breathe, and vest. for
perhaps quarter OF an hour; in the mean
time. the others draw around, and lie
down at respectful distance. When.
the chiei one has got bis rest, he common.
ces at the abdomen and breast. and afte,
making 'havnc with the tit-bits OF the car
case. be will take second rest, none Of.
the Others prespming to move. Having.
made a second gorge, he retires, the 9th
ers, watching his motions, rush an the.
remainder, aud it is soon devoured. A.,
other times, if a young lion seizes the
prey. and an old one happens to come.
Up, The younger retires till the elder has
dlned. This is what Atpicaner called
better manners than those of the Mama
quas .who abandon their aged parents
-oSe-
Shall old acquaintance be forgot.
And never bro't to mind ?-Zounds, no 1.