Polynesian., 1850-12-14

seizing large flaming brand, had belabor-
ed him on the head with the burning wood
but the brute did not take eny notice Of him
The Bushman had a narrow escape; he was
not altogether scatheless, the lion having it,
flicted two gashes in his seat with his claws
The next morning, just as the day began
to dawn, we heard the lion dragging some
thing up the river side, under cover of the
bank. We drove the cattle out of the kraal,
and then proceeded to inspect the scene OF
the nights awful tragedy. In the hollow,
where the lion had lain consuming his prey,
we found one leg of the unfortunate Hen
dric, bitten off below the knee, the shoe still
on his foot; the grass and bushes were all
stained with his blood, and fragments of his
pea-coat lay around. Peer Hcndifc l
knew the fragments of that old coat, and
had often marked them hanging in the dense
covers where the elephant had charged after
my unfortunate after-rider.
Hendric was by far the best man had
about.my wagons, of a most cheerful dispO-
sition, first-rate wagon-driver, fearless in
the field, ever active, willing, and obliging:
his loss to us all was very serious / felt
confounded and utterly sick in my heart;
could not remain at the wagons, so resolv-
ed to go after elephants to divert my mind
had that morning heard them breaking the
trees on the opposite side of the river. ac-
cordingly told the natives of the village of
my intentions, and having ordered my people
to devote the day to fortiGing the kraal
started with Piet and Ruyter as my after
riders. 1t was very cool day. We cross
ed the river, and at once took UP she fresh
spoor of troop Of bull elephants. These
bulls unfortunately joined troop Of cows,
and when we came on them the dogs attack
ed the cows, and the bulls were off in mo-
ment, before we could even see Them One
remarkably fine old cow charged the dogs
| hunted this COW, and finished her with two
shots from the saddle
Being anxious to return to my people be-
fore night, did not attempt to follow the
troop. My followers were not little graft
fed to see me returning for terror had taken
hold of their minds, and they expected that
the lion would return, and, emboldened by
the success of the preceding night, would
prove still more daring in his attack. The
lion would most certainly have returned but
fate had otherwise ordained My health had
been better in the last three days: my fever
was leaving me, but / was, Of course, still
very weak. 1t would still be two hours be-
fore the sun would set, and, feeling refresh
ed by little rest, and able for further work,
| ordered the steeds to be saddled, and went
in search of the lion.
| took John and Carey as after-riders,
armed, and party of the natives followed
up the spoor and led the dogs. The lion had
dragged the remains of poor Hendric along
native foot-path that led up the river side
Nn ofh oil tbo
spoor, and at last the mangled coat ITSELF
About six hundred yards from our camp
dry rivers course joined the Limpops. At
this spot was much shade, cover and heaps
of dry reeds and trees deposited by the Linz
popo in some great flood The lion had left
the foOt-path and entered this secluded spot.
/ at once felt convinced that we were upon
him, and ordered the natives to make loose
the dogs. These walked suspiciously for
ward on the spoor, and next minute began to
spring about, barking angrily, with all their
hair bristling on their backs: a crash upon
the dry reeds Immediately followed-it was
the lion bounding away.
Several of the dogs were extremely afraid
of him, and kept rushing continually back
ward and springing aloft to obtain a view.
now pressed forward and urged them on; old
Argyll and Bles took up his spoor in gallant
style, and led on the other dogs. Then COM
menced short but lively and glorious chase
whose conclusion was the only small salts
faction that could obtain TO answer for the
horrors of the preceding evening. The hon
held up the rivers bank for a short distance,
and took away through some wait-a-bit thorn
cover, the best he could find, but neverthe-
less open. Here. in two minutes, the dogs
were up with him, and he turned and stood
at bay. As approached he stood, his hor-
rid head right to me, with open Jaws, growl-
ing fercely, his tail waving from side TO
side
On beholding him my blood boiled with
rage. / wished that | could take him alive
and torture him, and, setting my teeth,
dashed my steed forward within thirty yards
of him and shouted ''Y Your time is up, old
fellow" | halted my horse, and, placing
my rifle to my shoulder, waited for broad
side. This the next moment he exposed,
when | sent bullet through his shoulder
and dropped him on the spot. He rose, how
ever, again, when finished him with a sec
ond in the breast. The Bakalahari now
John to cut off his head and forepaws and
o'iig tneH 10 inc "dSohs, dhu, HouH'tHS
my horse. gaIloped home, having been ah-
sent about fifteen minutes. When the Baka-
lahari women heard that the man-eater was
dead, they all commenced daacing about
with Joy, calling me their taiher.
Coop HILosoPHY.-"Silencc Is often an
says an Arabic proverb In many
cases no rebuke can be more powerful than
silence. There are men you cannot touch
more acutely than by letting them alone
most severely" as Theodore Hook says,
when they yilify you. xA
sF"You labor over much in your COM
position, Doctor" said fipPant clergyman
% venerable divine. 81 write a sermon in
hree hours, and think nothing Of a.'' $50
your congregation says" quoth the DIR.