The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-11-13

fact had been unlucky in two or three long
shots. and began to fear that should get out
of practice in that sort of sport, which requires
good nerves and experience more than any
thing else. | asked four or five of my best
men. including Apollo, if they would watch
with me at the pool, that night, for lions
Three of them consented, and we left the 9TH
crS with the wagons, with strict in functions to
keep the fire burning, and not to let the oxen
stray to distance. We reached the water
lust at sunset, and set to work at once with
the spades and hoes which We had brought
with us, to dig hole in the sand three or four
feet deep, about twenty yards from the pool.
! In about an hour we finished our hiding-place
throwing up the earth about it so as to con-
Ccal us still better from the SiTht of the wild
animals We then settled ourselves comfor-
tablv in the trench, and lay there with our
guns in readiness, waiting for the lions.
We STAYED there all night to no purposc.
4 good many animals came down to drink
but no lions, There We're sprincboks, gems
! boks, zcbras. GuaceaS. and some other crca-
lures, but we did not waste our ammunition
and, besides a single shot would have alarm
ed the lions. and prevented them from ap-
tln
pened we Jared no better for keeping quiet
and soon after dawn we came ont of our crave,
stiff, sleepy and sulkv, without having had a
glimpse of a lion. though we had heard them
roaring in the distance They had prohabl,
been attracted hv our wagons and oxen: for
they were prowlng about them all night. as
we afterwards learned. The people whom
we had left with them were in mortal terror,
but had SENSE enough keep up good blaze.
The oxen. in their fright crowded almost in
to the fire, and bv good luck the lions did not
venture TO attack them.
Il now gave up all hope of meeting the
game had now come out for: but was de
tcrmncd not 10 return to the WAGONS without
something to show for our nights watching.
We had gone but few rods from the pool
when small herd Of Sprn.bok> came bound
ing through tlirket OF thorn-trcr> lust IN
front Of us. They ran and leapel as though
something had frightened them but without
waiting TO see what it va,. ! fired both bar
rcl> in among them and kno kcd over one of
the largest. My men all bIazcd away at the
time, but without the smallest rtirot.
had Just taken NV GUN from my Shoulder
when an enormous lion walked, out of the
thickct and came slowly towards us. He wa,
not more than thirty yard off. and there wa.
no time to reload. was taken so complctrl,
by surprise that tor the fir>t few seconds
stood quite moionIcS>. and uncertain what tc
do. But then saw there was hut one cour>,
for Us. When a party Of natives 90 out with
their aS>a"ai> and knives to attack a linn a,
they sometimes do. their custom Is. when
they SC" lion approaching. TO ~it down on
the ground III a cluster. The lion. if he Is in 4
tlhung mood, singles ont one of them. alo
poun""> upon him. Sometimes the unlurk,
man l. killed At once hv the first nrip of IN,
lions teeth and claws: but more often h, ON.
" receives severe hurt. Then the other ma
tivcs throw Themselves alto.cthcr upon H.,
animal; some seize hi> tail and lift him M
which prevents him from turning upon them
while others stab him with their a>>aeai>. anl
cut him with their knives: and ,reuucn,I,
they manage to Kill him without anv los, of
lie in their party. But sometimes the Veto
rv Is on the other side: the lion kills two O,
three OF the natives, and the rest take To then
heels. 1t seemed to me Just possible that b,
sitting down together and showiuo a hoI,
front. we might intimdatc the lion. and nrc
vent him from attacking Us until had tim.
TO reload. called out loudly. sit >it /" an,
knelt down myself on one knee at tbc sam,
moment, preparing to reload if there shouI,
be time. But casting hastv glance around
| saw that all three of my men had take,
themselves of ttul speed as soon as the lion
appeared. and We're already half way to III,
: hill which was Just on this side of the WAGONS
Apollo had started with the rest hut he toll
me afterwards, and have no doubt with trutb
that he thought was running also. only. no
being 50 light-tootcd as the rest I could no
be expected to keep mp with them As III,
poor fellow did not dare to look ronnd. he ii,
not discover his mistake until they reachc,
the wagons.
'ln this way was left alone to face the Ii
on. 1t was useless for me to run. If I ha,
started with the NamaquaS he would hay,
had one of us. and most probably myself. be
fore we had gone fifty yards. My gun wa
, discharged and. while we were linoino H.,
: trench, | had given my hunting knife. whicl
incommoled me, to Apollo: so that was
: that moment completely di>armcd. | CAV,
myself up for lost, as a matter of course: an,
as was kneeling there, just said, God hel,
} my poor wife and Children and waited 70
the lion to spring. But the fellow did no
seem in any hurry. He came slowly up
slackening his pace by degrees; and at last
!, when he was about twelve feet off, he stoppe,
2 and sat down on the ground like a cat, look
ing me full in the face. | sat down, also. an,
looked at him in return; fixing my eyes upor
, his, and staring as hard as could Wien
: was at school, ! had read that the lower ami
mails cOull not onl,,ru tho ctonl.- e-o., e