The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-28
Californian yob 0@tt.

pTOmpt atfenrOn. kANU.SlVNk0 0NO.
"fhe lion having accepted the sacrifice
offered him, | was secure IS to myself, and rc-
gained the path had left, by making q cur
cult.
''Soon after, met party Of our friends on
horseback, who hal set out to seek US.
after having related my days adventure,
they wanted to proceed instantly to avense
the death of my cousin.
IL made them understand that there vas
not enough ot them, that We could not leave
the body Of our friend. and 6uaky, that I
was unarmed aud on foot.
"A horseman placed the burrows contain
ing the dead body across his saddle. another
took me behind him, and we arrived at the
douar befors any one was stirring in the
"On the evening Of the samc dav. at the
hour Of supper. fifty chosen horsem.e could
have been seen sl,urr,nc their stee.is towards
the snsald Of the murderer Of Lakdar.
the Sneik was holding great festival in
honor of the exc .ution of the morning. Tho
cOuscoussou had been served. and We arrived
very apropos to take part in the feast. The
dogs having given notice of our approach,we
we're met BY some servants who had run out,
astonished at seein. 50 many guests arrive at
once.
They were seized, and while ten horse.
men we're s:rangl:nc them with the camel
ropes they had in their hands. the rest of Our
party arrived before the Sheik 3 tent, and ~
bered the servants and inferior guests in tho
outer apartment, VINO were awaiting the re-
mains of the dinner, aud their share Of ths
feast.
From that momrn. left nv comrades TO
turn where they would. and sought for the
Sheik, whom wanted to Kill with my own
hand
The tent orr. gained. was the first to
cut an entrance and spring within, sword in
hand. Here found seated lmmovably in q
circle the Sheik, surrounded by . dozen Of
his chief men. They read their fate, and
never tand moved. In a quarter of an
hour after their head. were ranged in reeu-
lar order around the dish of still smoking
couscOnssou. and our fifiy hOrsemen entered
their respective douars with the day dawn,
driving before them immense focks, and lOa'l
ell with valuable bnotv.
:'Alr this had passed without . shot. and
almost without noise, 30 that the douars near
the smola of the Sheik learned our attack too
late to help him.
! From that ,lav until the arrival Of the
French put an end to our hOstilities. many
heads had fallen in both tribes, hut l never
afterwards saw any other falcons flown than
tbos We cast off BY the Ouled Mellegh."
LION KILLED ON HIS OWN HEARTHsTONE.
| Ile!t the douar with several Arabs, follow
ing the tracks the lioness had made when
carrying away the stolen sheep. Her course
lay along path that lay parallel With the one
had been watching, and could see in tho
snow that she had walked at an easy pace,
stopping from time to time to rub off the
snow that clogsed her feet. At about mile
and half FROM the douar We came to place
where she had dined. There was nothing
remaining Of the old lady's sheep hnt its
skin. which had been neatly pulled of. and
was rolled up and cast aside With the extrsm.
tiles Of the four legs. From here the trail ran
on for about pistol shot, and then went into
the wood' Here the Arabs came to the con.
cluson, that it would be safest for them to
wait and kindle fire. not intending in the
least to hinder me, in case desired to carry
nv researches any farther. Rather pleased
than otherwise to be free from their company,
| walked along the trail alone, and followed
It into the woods being armed with my double
barrel rifle and poinard.
As advanced into the woods, the close
vault OF trees overhead became more compact,
the walking more difficult. and every minute
l vas obliged to stop 70 unfasfen my burnOus
that had caught in the bushes, until finally
took it off altogether and left it behind. At
about half a mile from tn" edge of the woods,
I saw what thought was the lions cover. Ii
consisted Of dense thcket Of olive trres. a.
bout hundred yards in circumference. and
so closely packed that it formed perfect
roof snow laden above. but dry beneath, and
warm with the soft sittings Of the many foli-
aged trees. goodlv chamber for the forest
queen. The place seemed to breathe the
very odor ot sanrtitv. and ] could see here
and there the marks of her majestys feet, or
more sacred still TO plcbeian eyes. the very
impress Of her pers as she had lain here
aud there where fancy led her.
Knowing how sountlly the lion sleeps af'er
he has we'll eaten. hoped to reach her while
still in drcamland. and awaken her only hy
the ringing Of my rifle. So advanced SLOW
ly, step by step. with nv body bent. and my
eve following the trarks or scanning the
thicket around me, Sometimes thorn would
catch INV shirt and hold me back, sometimes
a vine had fastened its strong tendril across
INV path, and would have to stop to free my
self with the greatest caution, or on hands
and knees glide under the obstruction.
Finally. came to halt before an olive
tree closer than anv Of the Others, under
whose low. sweeping branches the li0ness had
slided. croucl.ing like myself. In vain
tried to see behind those branches; they
termed an impenetrahle veil that shut out all
eyes from my Iady's bower. Twas certain
she must be there. II was directly in the mid
die of the grove, which was not large one,
and as had been all around it ] was sure
that she had not passed out after entering it.
As the conviction forced itself on nv mind
nv heart beat 80 full with emotion that was
obliged to keep quiet for q moment or two
that my blood might flow on in its accustom.
ed course.
When became perfectly collected again.
] carefully pushed aside the branches that
. impeded my view with the end Of my gun.
was right-there lay the Iioness only five
steps from the, stretched on her side. with
her head pillowed on one paw, dreaming 10
. perfect quiet, with the s0it respiration Of .
! girl in her slumbers.
made ready TO FIRE. but when my 2un
was at my shoulder. and my eye r." along
:be barrel. found myself in most perplrx.
ing situation.
THE lioness wat lying in such . xanner