Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-05


Tho morning was cloudy; misty vspors
hung on the shoulders Of The ne'ghbor;nr
mountains, and the air Wa loaded wiz
bslmy perfume. emitted ~ tho grateful
plants and herbA Az We approached ihs
csrcass Of Wild beast. 1obscrvcd several
jackals steal away, and sonsc half drown
Cd looking WI. res wcrc s;ts;ng round T.
But there was no appearances of lie I;ou.
lspcut the next half hour riding scroea tha
| plain looking for his spoor, but / souoht 4,
vain. Being cold and hungry. Iturnea ny
horses head for camp, apd rode slowly :.
long through tho middle 81 the essne
which would scarcely move out q ria.
range ON either sidc ofmo.
Suddenly ] observed ! number of vi.
lures seated on the plain about ou,rtcr
ofa milo ahead Of us. and closc bc1;d2
them stood huge lioness, consuminr 7
blesbok which sho had killed. She was
assisted in her rcpast BY about dozen
jackalls. which wcrc ieastil,g along with
her In the most friendly and confidential
manner. Directing my followers atesu-
ton to the spot. remarked, sce the lions
to which they replicd. Wharf wharf Yah!
Almagtig dat is hot and Instantly reiguinx
in their stectis and wheeling about, thew
pressed their hssis to their horses sidcs;
and wcrc preparing to bctake themselves
to fight. Iaskcd them what they wsrc
going to do. To which they snswcvod,
We have not yet rsaccd caps on our II.
fles.' This wastruc; but while The short
conversation wns passing the lioncss had
observed us. Raising her full. round face.
shc ovcrhauled US for few seconds, and
then set off nt smart cantcr towards Z
range Of mountains somc miles to the
nothward. the whole TROOP Of jackals also
started off in another direction, there wasy
therefore, no time TO think Of caps. Tho
FIRST move was to bring her 70 bay, and
not q second Yasto be lost. Spurrssg my
good and lively stocd, and shouting 10 my
mon TO follow, ! few across the plain and
being fortunately mounted on Golcsbcrg,
tho Rswer Of my stud, I gained upon her
at every stride. This was 10 mo joyful
moment, and at once mado UP my mind
that she or must die.
The lloncss having had good start Of
me, we went over considerable length Of
ground before | came UP with her. shs
WASH large. full grown beast, and tho
bare and level nature Of tho plain aided
her imposing appearance. Finding that !
gained upon her, she reduced hcr pace from
cantcr 70 trot carrying hcr tail stuck
out behind her, and slcwcd littlc ono
side. l shouted loudly to her to halt. a.
wished to speak with her, npcn which She
suddenly pulled Up. and sat on her hauna
chcs like dog. with her back toward me,
not even deigning to look round. Shc then
appeared to say to herself. Does this fel4
low know who he Is afterf' Having thus
sat for half minute. as IL involved in
thought, she sprang to her Met. and. fscin9
about. stood looking at hic for few scc.
onds. moving her tail slowly from side to
side. showing het teeth, and growing
iiercely. She next ,nnde a short run for
wdrd. making loud. rumbling noise like
thunder. This she did 70 intimidatc mo;
but, finding that did not finch an inch ncr
seem to heed her hostile demonstrations.
she quietly stretched out her massive arms,
and lay down on the grass. My H0tten4
tots now coming up, we all three disfnoun4
ted, and, drawing our rifles from their hol-
stcrs, we looked to SEQ IL the powder was
up in the nipples, and put on our caps.-
While this was doing the lioness sat up,
and showed evident symptoms Of uneasi-
ness. She looked first at US, and then be-
hind her, as il to see if the coast was clear;
after which she made short run towards
US, uticring her deep-drawn murderous
growls. Having secured the three horses
to one another by their rcins, We led them
on as II wo intended to pass her, in tho
hope Of obtaining a broadside. But this
she carefully avoided to expose. present
lug only her 'front.'. I lind giscn Stofolos
my Moore rife, with orders to shoot her IL
she would spring upon me, but on no sc-
count to fire before me. Kleinboy was to
stand ready to hand me my Purdy rife,
in case the twe-grovcd Dixon should not
prove sufficient. My men had as yet been
steady, but they were in precious stow.
their faces having assumed a ghastly pale
ness, and had painful feeling that I
could place no rcliance on them.
Now, then, for il, neck or nothingi She
is within sixty yards Of us, ard she keeps
advancing. We inrned tho horses tails 70
her. ] knclt on one side, and, taking a
steady aim at her breast, let Ny. The BALL
cracked loudly On her tawny hice, and
crippled her in the shoulder, Upon which
she charged with an appalling roar, and
I'm the twinkling Of ah eyb she was in the
midst fus. Attbis moment Stofolus's RI
ille exploded in his hand. and Klcinboy.
whom had ordered to stand ready by me.
danced about like duck in a gale Of wind.
The Iioncss sprang upon Colesbcrg, and
fcarfully larcerated his ribs and launches
with her horrid teeth and claws; the worst
wound was on his baunch, which cxhibi
ted a sickcning, yawning CASH. more than
twelve inches long, almost baro to the
very bone. Twas very cool and steady.
and did notfecl in the least degree nervous,
having fortunately great confidence in my
own shooting; but l must confess, when
the whole affair was over. T5clt that it
was very awful situation, and attended
with extreme peril, as had no friend With
me on whom could rely.
When the lioncss s;,rthg on Colrsbcrg.
! stood out from the horses, rrstly with
my second bnrrcl for the first chance she
should give me Of a clear shot. This she
quickly did; for. seemingly satisfied will,
the revenge slc hna now taken, shc Quilted
Colesbcfg, and, Slowing her tail to one
side, trotted sulkily past within few PAGES
ofme, taking one step to the left. l pitch
ed my rifle tom my shoulder, and in a;,otber
second The lioness was stretched ON tho
PLAIN a hieicss corpse. in the struggles Of
death she half t.arncd on her back. and
si;ctchcd ncr neck and fore arms conyul-
siycly, when she fell back to her former
position; her mighty armshung powerless
by her side, her lower jaw fell, blood