Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-01-29
Encounter in the Dark with a Lion.

Owing to the accounts heard Of an enor.
nous old lion who was running his neighborS
in the vicinity of the camp of Dream sent for
my weapons from Ghelma and left Bone on
the Goth of February At five o'clock on the
evening of the 2Tth, | reached the douar OF
the Ouled Bou-AZizi, situate about half mile
from the retreat of the beast Who according
to the old mcu of the place, had lived there
80 years | was told on my arrival that eve
ry evening at sunset the lion roared on leaving
his den, and that in the night he dCs ended
into the plain still continuing TO roar 4 meet
ing seemed inevitable, SO loaded my two guns.
Hardly had hniShc'' this operation, which al
ways requires the greatest attention, when l
heard the roaring begin in the mountain. My
host offered TO accompany me as far as the
ford which the lion would have to cross on de-
scending the mountain. | gave him my second
gun. and we started. 1t was too dark to see
at two steps distance. After having walked
through a wood for quarter of an hour we
reached the border of brook that flows at
the foot of the Zebel krouuega. My guide,
much agitated by the roaring, which drew
nearer and nearer said The ford is there 5"
| tried TO reconnOitre my position but all
around was so dark that | could not even see
the Arab although he touched me. As my
eyes could distinguish nothing | began to de-
Sceud towards the brook feeling all the way
with my hands for the track Of Il horse or sheep.
1t was certainly we'll sheltered, and difficult of
access Having found stone, which | used
as a seat at the edge OF the brook, and just be-
yond the ford. | sent away my guide, who
wished for nothing better While trying to
make out the ground about me, he did not
cease saving, 1" Let us return to the dOuar :;
the night is too dark we will look for the Ii
on tomorrow. during the day As he did
not dare return to the douar alone, he crouch
ed down in group Of IentiSeS about fifty steps
from me- After telling him not to move IN
der any circumstances, | took my position on
the stone The lion was roaring STILL and
drawing gradually nearer. Having closed my
ewes for some minutes, | saw, on opening them,
that at nv feet there was a perpendicular ditch,
formed. no doubt, by the oyerfowing of the
brook which ran some yards beneath me on
the left. and at the very muzzle of my gun,
was the ford | formed nv plan instantly
Ii il were possible To distinguish the lion in the
bed Of the river, | meant To fire at him there
the ditch being maans of protection for
me in ease | wounded him severely 1t might
have been nine o'clock when | heard the roar,
about Il hundred yards beyond the brook
Wigh nv elbow on nv knee. the butt eud of
my gun on nv shoulder, and my eyes fixed on
the water, W.ucl couI distinguish from tine
TO time. | waited The time seemed long,
when | heard. Just in front of me- on the op-
p0>te side Of the brook a long CULTURAL moan.
| raised Ev eyes ia the direction of this strange
sound, and perceived the eyes of the lion fixed
on M. and looking Ike two reI-hot COILS
The fixed look drove back all the blood in nv
veins 10 my heart. \ minute before | Shud-
dered with cold. now the per>pratioa stream
ed on ny forehead ANY one who has not
seen q fG,l grown lioa ia lis Wild state, may he
lieve in the possibility Of an armed man >rrug
Cling with il but amy person who has seen
ole. knows that a man struggling with q lion
is Ike i mouse in the claws OF 4 eat. | have
said that | had already Killed two lions, the
smallest Of which weighed FIVE hundred pounds
The latter. with one movement of his claw had
stopped horse az full gaIIop, and had killed
both horse aud man. From that period was
sufficiently well acquainted with their severity
10 know what | had to expect from leoniue
scratches Accordingly. have never looked
upon a dagger aS : weapon To be depended
on. In case lion should not fall beneath ny
irSt or second bullet, which is possible
enough | have determined when he springs
upon me and | resist the shock 10 euIedv0r
to force nv gun down his throat up to the
stock then, If his powerful claws have neither
thrown ue 10 the ground nor peiTced me Ike
i harp0on. | must either attack him in the
ewes or near the heart according To the means
of action left me. Ii fall ST his attack wh!cl,
Is more than probable provided have NV
two hands free. | snail feel for hi> heart with
the left. aud With the right deal the blow II.
on the following dav. two bottles he not found
entwined to-t ther. mine VIII not have left the
field OF honor and the lions will not be far
frum The dagger Will tell the rest had
lust drawn my dagger from the sheath. AMI
placed Ii in the gro Iad within reach, when the
lion east his eyes down towards the brook
took meutai farewell OF the world AMI made
a vow 10 die In 4 manner OF y h;ch those WHO
were dear To me would be proud vet. when
my finger moved softly towards the trigger.
WAS less aritatei than the liOa himself who
waS about taking 10 the water | heard his
frs, step in the stream, which ran n0iseIeS>.y
and rapidly before Us Then. all was silent
Was he standing still ? Was he coming To-
war,jS me These we're the questions put "a
myself, as / sought 10 pierce the o5scGviGy by
which was enyel0ped On all sides, wheu sud
denly thought | heard, close on my left, the
sound OF bis Step in the mud He had indeed
+ come ont Ot the brook, aud WAS slowly ascend
M the steps OF the ford, wheH a movement
happened 70 make caused him 10 stop. He
was four or five steps from NE, and might
spring upOa ne al ANY moment. II i useless
to look for the sights Of y0uT gun when you
can't even see the barrel. | fired As best C0lId
with nv head erect and both ewes open. The
lash enabled me 10 see al e20TGlOu hairy mas;
Of indisGincl form 4 fearful roar rent the
air, the lion vas hors dc combat, The first
cry Of pain followed by series Of dull, threat
eniug moanS- / heard the animal writing il