Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1856-10-30

AAV Su'C hihSCh w lOl IOSt. TupHt
would have been useless, for the lion
would have overtaken him before he had
run fifty yards. For moment he stood
motionless, overcome by the slddenness
and imminency of the peril, and then
stopped down, holding the gun before
him. The lion advanced slowly with his
eyes fixed on his expected prey, and sat
down like a cat at about twelve feet dis
dance. BY the manner in which he lick
ed his mouth, Mr.. Hutton thought it prob
able that the animal had Just finished
breakfasting off an antelope, and would
defer the attack until he became hungry
again; as lions, like the rest of the feline
carnivora, like their prey fresh killed
In the meantime, he would make sure of
Mr.. H. by watching him.
The sun rose up, bright and clear, and
the heat soon became oppressive. For
tunately the poor man had broad-brim-
med felt hat on, which protected his face
from the scorching solar rays, and he had
just before emptied bottle of water
which he had brought with him, so that
he did not feel The heat so much as he
otherwise would have done. He began
to calculate the chances of escape, for he
had not lost his coolness and presence of
mind, and it was evident that the hon did
not mediate very hasty proceedings.
There was the chance of his men coming
in body to raise the state of siege and
blockade in which he was placed; but
against this he had to set their cowardice,
of which he had just had an instance, and
the probability that their approach would
cause the lion to expedite the assault, and
settle the business at once. He attempted
to reload his gun, but the deep growing
of his savage enemy warned him to de-
sit. The brute evidently had sagacity
enough to know that il was a weapon, and
he also seemed to be aware of the vicinity
of Mr. Hutton's blacks, for he several
times looked sharply and restlessly in the
direction of the wagons.
Once troop of zebras cantered up to
the spot. When they saw the lion, they
wheeled quickly about, snorted, and dash
ed off in another directicn The lion rose
to his feet, turned half round, and looked
after them, but did not go in pursuit, as
Mr.. H. hoped and prayed he would do.
He sat down, growing sullenly, and re-
sumed his watch. Soon afterwards he
rose again, looking towards the wagons,
and growing in manner which showed
that he was angry about something. 1t
came out afterward that Mr.. Hutton's
servants had summoned courage enough
to approach the spot, armed with guns !;
but on seeing the lion get up, and look
towards them, they all took to their heels.
The lion crouched down again, with his
fore feet turned under him, as a cat does
sometimes and as he began to yawn and
wink, Mr.. II. thought he was getting
tired of his watch. If he had been, how
ever, he would have made the attack at
once. ..
Towards evening the roaring of lion
ess was heard, and Mr.. II. trembled lest
the enemy should respond, and that his
mate, who would, perhaps, be hungry,
would approach, and devour the supper
which the lion was keeping for himself.
Probably the latter had the same fear,
, for, though he rose and laid down again
several times, moved about neasily, and
shifted the ground, he did no, reply to the
call, which soon ceased to be heard. The
sun had now gone down, and myriads of
stars were shining in the deep blue sky.
} The lion lay still, ard Mr.. II. feared to
attract his attention by moving; having
t been up all the preceding night, he felt
drowsy too, but dared not close his eyes.
He hoped that something would soon oc-
5 cur to draw the lions attention from HIM,
for he felt he should inevitably be sacri-
feed as soon as the animal became hun
I CRY. Several times he heard anielopes
5 and zebras come to the water to drink
Y but the lion scarcely noticed them. He
r had evidently made uP HI, mind to s''p ~