Nebraska advertiser., 1857-01-15

A LION STORY,

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A LION STORY,
Some years ago there resided at the
Cape of Good Hope a respectable colo
mist named Hutton, who had accumu-
lated a competency by trahicing with
the lNamaquas and the Damaras, with
whom he exchanged English manufac-
lures for skins, ivory and ostrich fea-
theirs. Hewa engaged in one of these
lucrative but hazardous trading expe-
ditions, when he met with the adven-
ture which we are about to relate. Two
wagons carried his merchandise, and a
dozen blacks attended him, two of them
Mozambique negroes, and the remain
der Hottentots and Nslma9uas. One
afternoon he halted neal, pool, around
the margin of which were the footprints
of several animals, among them those
of lions. MIR. Hutton was a Keen sports
man, and man Of unfinching cour-
age, butsthe fears Of his attendants led
him to drive two miles further on, and
encamp for the night in asmall valley.
The oxen were unyoked and turned
loose to pick the scanty herbage, and
a large fire was kindled to scare away
Wild beasts. Mr.. Hunton then asked
for volunteers from among his little
party to watch fer lions at the pool
he obtained three, and with strict in
functions to the others to keep up the
fire, and prevent the cattle from stray
ing, they proceeded to the water,
Having dug a hole three or four feet
deep at about twenty yards from the
pool, and heaped the sand up about il
to conceal them still more, they stepped
into the trench with their loaded guns,
and waited anxiously for the appear
ance of the forest monarch.
Much to Mr.. Hntton's disappoint-
ment, but equally to the satisfaction Of
his sable companions, no lion showed
himself all night, though several ante
lopes and zebras came to drink, and
they heard the roarings of lions at a
distance. At day-break they set out
for the wagons, and had not gone far
when small herd Of antelopes came
bounding through thicket in front Of
them, as if alarmed; and without wait
ing to see the cause, Mr.. Hutton raised
his gun, fired both barrels, and killed
one Of the largest. The blacks fired
at the same time, but without effect
AS the antelopes bounded onward, an
enormous lion came out of the thicket
and advanced slowly towards Mr.. Hut
ton and his party. The three blacks
Immediately took to their heels, and as
their master had given one of them his
hunting knife while digging the trench
because it incommoded him, he was
quite defenseless. He gave himself
up for lost. Flight would have been
useless, for the lion would have over
taken him before he hadrun fifty yards
For a moment he stood motionless
overcome by the suddenness and i'm
minency of the peril, and then stopped
down, holding the gun before him
The lion advanced slowly, with bis eyes
fixed on his expected prey, and sat
down like a cat, at about twelve fee
distance. By the manner in which be
licked his mouth, Mr.. Hutton thought
| it probable that the animal bad JUS
/ finished breakfasting off an antelope
and would defer the attack until he be-
came hungry again, as lions, like the
Erest of the feline carnivora, ike theil
| prey fresh killed. La the meantime
| he would make sure of MIR. Hutton BY
watching him.
The sun rose up bright and clear
and the heat soon became oppressive
Fortunately the poor man had a broad
brimmed felt hat on, which protected
his face from the scorching solar rays
and he had just before emptied bot
! tie of water which be had brought Will
him, so that he did not feel the hea
so much as he otherwise would hav,
done. He began to calculate tn
chances of escape, for he had not los
his GOODNESS and presence of mind, an,
Lit was evident that the lion did no
mediate very hasty proceedings. Their
was the chance Of his men Coming i
body to raise the state of siege am
blockage in which be was placed; bu
against this he had to set their coward
lice, of which he had an instance, an
the probability that their approac
would cause the lion to expedite tn
; assault, and settle the business at once
] He attempted to reload his gun, bu
the deep growing of his savage enem
warned him to desist. The brute evi
! IDENTIFY had sagacity enough to kno7
that it was weapon, and he ais
seemed to be aware of the vicinity {
!. Mr.. Hutton's blacks, for he sever;
times looked sharply and restlessly
7 the direction Of the wagons.
N Once a troop of zeBras cantered q
i to the spot. When they saw the liol