The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-06-15

my companion to hel p me paddle in that
direction. lie did no, object, for he wan
ted shot at them himself.
We had come to within dozen faith.
oms of the shore, when a quick, loud cry
from Lari startled me from my aim. and
in The hext instant the canoe struck upon
some hard substance.
"A rock = | asked.
"A hiM'QpotamuS p the Nubisn shout
ed, srringing back towards me.
Hardly had the words escaped his lips
before huge black head was lifted above
the gunwales, and as | cast my eyes over
into the water, ! saw the whole body Of
the monster. 1t was as large as an Gle.
phant, but ten times more hideous in look
Its mouth was opened to distance Of
three feet, or more, and lis great teeth, all
OF loot in length, looked like destruc
ton itself. He seized the bows Of our
boat III his capacous jaws, and crushed
1t like an egg shell. With all the force
could muster Ieaped into the water
and struck out for the shore. uaver
swan faster, though when | reached the
land found that the hippopotamus had
not followed US, having sunk to the bot
tom probably rs soon as he had destroy
ed tho canoe.
We were now in Quandary. We
had come quite twelve or fifteen miles
from the camp, and we must foo, it back
the best way we could. II We could have
followed the shore the task would have
been easy enough, but this we could no,
do, for deep, dark swamp, overgrown
with reodS and bushes, and gnarei trees,
lay between lis and our tent, so we must
strike up into the wood upon the higher
land, and make the best of 1t. Our only
weapons were two knives and Lari's spear
The latter lie had grasped as he started
from the boat, but the rifles and pistols
were at the bottom Of the lake. babe
my companion 10 take the lead, and he
did so.
For three hours we tugged on through
thick, matted forest, aud at the end Of
tia, time we reached :he edge Of wide
"xpanse Of rocky desert. There were
cIumps of bushes scattered over the place,
but they looked dry and parched. Here
sc took An observation, and finally de-
cided to keep down upon the right hand
side OF the rocky plain, knowing that the
lake must lie in that direction. BY the
time we had passed over half the length
of the barren waste the sun was behind
the trees. a LITTLE while afterwards, just
AS the Gark shadows spread over the
whole width Of the plain, Lari uttered a
low hist ! and placed his hand upon
my arm.
DO YOU hear anything 2 he asked
me.
| listened a moment, and told him,
y cs, perhaps they are coming after us.
who are they 7 sail he.
Our party answered.
That fellow walks on four feet, and
has a weight equal 20 all the men we have
left behind Hark again y
i did so, and could now plainly dis,in
| guish the tread OF some heavy animal.
is 1t a lion, do you think p asked.
Lari hesita,ed moment, and then,
grasping me by the arm, he pointed into
the wood.
Look See !-Therer he cried, whirl-
ing INC half around AS he spoke
did look-and saw "a sght-a sight
that made my hair start and my heart
leap. Not rifle NOT even a piGtoI =
and yet there-not twenty yards distant
WAS n huge Nuban lion crawling to
wards us. | could see his ewes burn
could see his long tail sweep the grass ;
| and !. could see that he was advancing
for spring
Ile's hungry said the Nubiau, 'or he
would not be coming on in that way
Then hall attack us z | suggested.
'Of course he will
'And not n wear on for defence =
Il have my spear, returned Lari. Now
to the back of these bushes-quick-and
let him come. Lave your knife out in
case Of need
] hardly knew what my companion
meant, but saw, jus. upon our left a
c!ump Of bushes bearing small, red Der
ry. They were not over four feet high,
and occupied a space some eight feet long
by four wide. When we had gained a
position behind them, looked soT the
lion. He had stopped rs be saw us take
this covert, but we were lot hidden from
hIs sight, as there were openings in the
foliage through which both parties could
obtain view of each other.
We are gone said /, trembling with
fear, as / saw the huge monster set.
tie upon his belly and move towards us.
Perhaps not, whispered Lar, without
taking his eye from the lion. Keep still
don't move for your iter
But What can you do with that spearl'
| asked.
Perhaps nothing; but wait and see.'
did wal, {; but though ii was but a
few moments, yet ii was q season Of ter
rible suspense to me. am not a coward,
nor was ever one but come to be situa-
ted as was then, with full.grown lion
before you-not twenty yards of-and
only a little patch Of bushes for an apollo.
gy for a shelter. through which the beast
could watch every movement, and with
that unearthly, purring, roaring growl,