Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-10-31

ny attention to making pot of barey-broth, tt
md lighted fire between the wagons ana tiie 81
water, close on the rivers bunk, under dense o
yroye of shady trees, making no sort OF Kraai
around our sitting place for the evening
The Hottentots, without any reason, made p
tho;r fire about fifty yards from mine; they, ac-
cordnr to their usual custom, beng satisfied
with the shelter Of large dense bush. The
evening passed away cheerfully. Soon after it
was dark we heard elephants breaking the trees
in the forest across the river, and once or twice
| strobe away into the darkness some distance
from the freside to stand and listen 10 their hea-
Wy tread.
little, at this moment, dreamed of the immi-
nent peril to which was exposing my life, nor
thought that blood thirsty man-eater lion was
crouchng near, and only watching his opportu
nifty to spring into the kraal, and consign one of
us to a most horrible death. About three hours |
after the sun went down, called to my men to
come and take their coffee and supper, which
was ready for them at the fire; and alter supper
their own fireside, and lay down; these were
John Stofous, Hendrie and Ruyter. In few
minutes an OK came out by the gate of the kraal
and walked round the back of it. Hendrie got
up and drove him in again, and then went back
to his freside and lay down. Hendre and Ruy-
ter lay on one side of the fire under one blanket,
and John Stofolus lay on the other AT this
moment was sitting taking some barley y-broth;
E our gre was very small, and the night pitchda
and windy. Owing 10 our proximity 10 the ma.
, tive village, the wood was very scarce, the
: Bakalabari having burned it all in their own
i fires.
;. Suddenly the appalling and murderous voice
# Of an angry, blood-thirsty lion burst upon my
,r ear within few yards oi u.s. followed by the
h shrieking of the Hottentots. Again and again
:. the murderous roar of attack was repeated
!, We heard John and Ruyter shrek, The lion
,o the lion " still, for few moments. we thought
he was but chasing one Of the dogs round the
-, kraal; but, next instant, Stofolus rushed into
Il the midst OF us almost speeches. with fear and
il, toror, his eyes bursting ffon their sockets, and
-, shriekcd out" The lion the lion! he has gOl
~ Hendre; he dragged him away from the fire
&c beside me- struck him with the burning brands
10 upon his head, but he would not let go his hold
Hendrie is dead Oh God Hendrle is dead
- Let us take fire and seek him"
,o The rest of my people rushed about, shrck-
l., ing and yelling as if they were mad. was a
once angry with them for their folly, and tOi
" them that if they did not stand still and kee
lp- -
nd quiet, the lion would have aneiher OF US; au
,f that very likely there was troop Of them.
,or ordered the dogs, which were nearly all fast,
,,o be made loose, and the fire to be increased Q
orr far as could be.
nu then shouted Hendrie's name, but all wa
=, still told my men that Hendrie was dea
o.. and that regiment Of soldiers could not no
,io0 help him, and, hunting my dogs forward, hi
=. everything brought within the cattle kraa witt
cha we lighted the fire and closed the entrance
,;,,. well as we could
tho My terrified people rar round the fire vi
aver guns in their hands, till the day broke, still ia
X to cying that every moment the lion wound rctu
bilo and spring again into the midst of us. VIII
saint the dogs were first let loose, the stupid brut
.ho as dogs often prove when most required lnste
,;ot Of going at the lion, rushed fercely on one
od,n othe, and fought desperately for some mnut
u After this they got his wind, and, going at hi
ovor disclosed to us his position; they kept up CT
- or tinLal barking until the day dawned, the i
,rao, occasionally sprnging after them and drivl
ou,, them in upon the kraal
.io,s The horrible monster lay all night within fo
=, yards of us, consuming the wreched man VIII
tbo;r he had chosen for his prey, lie had drag!
.ho;r him into little hollow at the back of the tn
bush beside which the fire was knded,
,od, there he remained till the day dawned, care
~ or of our proximity.
boh;, 1t appeared that when the unfortunate
drie rose to drive IN the OK, the lion had wa
,os him to his freside, and he had scarcely
ed to uo"h "''ei 'lle O'ule sprung upon MN ana
r,iro ter for both lay under one banket.) with his
palling murderous roar, and, roaring as he
Enr. grappled him with his fearful claws, and
llture. Dt'ng MIN OIL HIS "'eaS' "'u '"ou'"e'S' "i
mono while feeling for his neck; having got ho
mt; fn which, he at once dragged him away back
ROSY. round the bush into the dense shade,
,hoice AS 'he non lVy nou upon .ne umol'uuu''
he family cried, Help me, helpme Oh
,w;no. men, help me !" Alter which the fearful
II t6s got a hold Of his neck and then all was still
from cept that his comrades heard the bones {
,o.,n neck cracking between the huge teeth {
e.hsr lion.
Stofolus had Iain with his back to the Fl
Africa. The opposite side, and on hearing the Ii
sol ang up. and, seizing large flaming b
he 3, ruck him upon the head with the bu
aoe of wood but the brute did not take any not
,t e,a. him. The bushman had narrow escap
side Of was not altogether scathless, the lion
here inflicted two deep gashes on his back wi
rivers claws,
and a. The next morning, just as the day be-
,iIlage dawn, we hesl d the lion dragging someth
It max the river side, u nder cover oi 'he pahN'
escrip drove the cattle A'ut oil dps 2taa'' anu inc
ecome ceeded to ipspeetHn scens ef the nights
the H. tragedy,
cattle In the hollow, who e The hoa haa lai
which .umiug his prey, we foal Nd one leg Of the
g made tunate Hendrie, bitten Oh Oe'o% Tue kn'
10 hind shoe still on his foot, the gya ss ana pushe
all stained with his blood, s,'d fragments
learn as pea coat lay scattered arOpBA Poor H'
(which knew the fragments Of thatslf coat' a
Ear, and often marked them hanging ia u. dease
,e acted where the elephant had charged ah er ny
gfnl and tunato piter-rider. Heudrie FAsby far 4
4 cHrdle man had about my Ragons,pf ma st c