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

The next alarm came from the direction
OF my wagons ] saw the lion look earnestly
IN that dlrection,a ,as he had done once or twire
before and then rise to his feet. and utter an
angry growl, drawing back his lips and show
IN" his teeth, as though he saw something that
did not please him. | learned afterwards
that my men urged on by Apollo, had armed
themselves to the teeth. and advanced 10 the
top of the hill. Standing there. with their
wonderfully keen sight, they could perceive
the lion keeping guard over me: but no soon
er did they see the brute rise and turn tow
ard them, than they all scampcrcd back to
the wagons, and Jumped into them. friahtcn-
ened almost out of their wits After A little
while. the lion crouchcd down again before
me, stretched out his paws, ,vawned and wink
ed. and thought seemed to be growing tired
of his watch. But it was clear that he had
made up his mind to remain there till nirht
otherwiS" he wonld have settled M account
without lrlav."
may observe that the calm Indifference
with which Mr. Hutton had thus far told his
: singular story was calculated to make very
peculiar impression upon a F>trncr-half of
wonder and half of amusement. He snokc. in
: fact. in the same quaint and cool manner in
which an old soldier relates the history Of A
l battle, or a mariner tells of the >hipwrccks he
q: has cXncricnccd
Toward evening" he continued Il heard
a low roaring which seemed To lie at a nrcat
distance. l. Ifappcarcl to disturb my lion a
: good deal From the sound knew ii to hr
> the roar of lionc>s; and thought it likely
, that the old fellows mate was looking about
for Linn. He rot mp and lay down a.ain. two
or three times. moving about unra>ily and
sniiiin" the "ruund. aS though he was fror,-
at last the voice Of the lionc>> passed gradual
" ont Of hearing. This think was the most
anNiouS moment of the whole dav 70 ne
For if the lion hal answered his mate and
called her 10 him. She would. most likely have
. been hungry and in that case won!i not have
: DELAYED an instant in >rizing upon the nice
. supper which her husband was keeping for
himself. dare say the cunning rascal was of
the same opinion.and 80 thought best to keep
his own counsel.
"A; last the ight came The stars were
bright hut there, WIS no moon. couId see
: objects indi~tinrjly at littlc distance. and
: roul' Just discern the outlines of -ha hills 10
the eastward. The lion Law quiet in shacrv
mass, few wards from me. saw that he
was wide awake, and that he saw distinctly
I every motion made. Occasionally cnuld
D see his eyes turned towards me, shining like
: two Goals offirc. Ny last hope row was that
by remaining perfectly silent and motonlrs>,
' | ml@ht tire him ont. or keep him from at
attacking me until something happened. as in
the case of the IIottrntot We were >pcakinG
: Of, to draw him off. For this purpose ii was
: necessary that should remain awake. and
this was really a matter of the greatest diff
=, Guilty to me. was completely worn ont. as
+ you may imagine after being fort, irht hours
: without .to"d or sleep, ard nv mind most of
the time wrought up to the highest pitch of
anxiety. The ni"ht was chilly which alone
: would have caused me to feel sleepy. Every
= dim, about me was as silent rs the cravc.anl
T. | had to make continual efforts to keep my
e. evrlld> open. Every now and then caught
r myself holding, and would awaken with a
' sudden start OF terror. at the thouMht that the
a lion might hc Just preparing to spring upon
t me. That was really horrid time hard
:: " Ike to think OF it even now was like a
: condemned prisoner who awalr> from night
a mare to remember that he Is to be eNecutcd
v IN few hours. | don't think | could have
: held out i'll that condition through the ni"ht.
It 1t was a task much too hard for human ma
turc.''
Here the trader paused for a moment look
:, ing serious and al>C rbed. like man who has
i painful rrcollcctions re allied to hi> mind. But
he presently reused himself and ! ro eeded
with his story.
o Two or three hours after the darkness had
. set in, | could hear the animals coming to
|, the water to drink Some of them passed at
:. a little distance from NE, but did not get a
Q sight of any. The hon saw them plainly but
r he only moved his head a little as they trot.
4 cd by. There was no chance of his leaving
@ me and going after them, as had hoped -
J., All at once. he lifted his head look ed toward
d me. and began to growl. Now, II ought /
G ''thc time is come" He rose on his feet and
V growlcd louder, all the while looking hard
n at me. as thought. | braccd myself for a
struggle, with my gun in my left hand and nv
: handkerchief in my right. had a notion
e OF cndeavoring to thrust the gun crosswiSe
into his month. and then getting nv right
c hand down his throat 1t was very ooor
/ chance, but the only one left. and meant tc
e die game. In fact | had given up all hope
' But i'll few minutes. the lion.t my surprise
d became quiet again. and sat down; he did
n not lay down, as before, but kept his heat
+ stretched forward toward me- like cat in
e tently examining some object. At last he
d lay down again as though he was satisfied a
c bout the matter that had disturbed him. Bu
e in another ten minutes or so he rose once
e more to his feet: and growlcd more ferocious