The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-06-17
A THRILLING ADVENTURE WITH A
LION.

1t was warm, pleasant evening in Novem
Der, and our ship was off the coast of Tripoli
A party of US, who sat upon the quarterback
had been conversing upon various subjects con.
corning the vast desert TO the southwark of US
81 think you have travelled across the des-
| ert 9" said one OF our number, addressing the
captain.
"Not exactly" replied Captain Bushwick
"Some years ago | spent few months in
AbyssinIa, and the country south of it,
''Was It then you had your adventure with
| the lion %
"Ah-you've heard of that scrape, eh?'
| "Only that you had such an adventure, cap
tain. Your mate told me you had met the
animal'
"WelI, have; and if you would like to hear
the yarn, [ will tell it,"
! A vote was Immediately and unanimously
carried that Captain Bushwck had permission
to relate his adventure; and without further
preiminarIes he proceeded
sIt is now fve-and-twenty years since |
took the notion to travel among the African
/ natives. had an uncle living in Mocha, en-
gagged in trade there, and had gone out to see
him. He vas going into Abyssinia on busi-
ness, and / accompanied him. Our party con-
sisted OF SHINY uncle and self, and four Nu-
bian servants. These Nublans were faithful
fellows, and long tried, and were, moreover,
strong and fearless, having lived with my rela-
tive several years. When the business was
over, proposed that we should take a trip TO
the southwark, and see the country. The NJ
bians were anxious to 60, and, after a deal of
persuasion, my uncle consented to the arrange
ment.
"On the seventh day we reached a large
lake upon the extreme southern border of Abys-
slnia, where we pitched our tent, and then
went hunting for game, we having been Inior-
med that we should find plenty of both fish
much more 50 than | had expected and fowl
in this region. Our luck was moderate, my
uncle was bent on returning, but was deter
mined to have a few more trials
s'The only boat we had been able TO fnd was
a small canoe, fashioned from a log, and one
morning declared that | would take a cruise
in II if some one would accompany me. The
canoe would not carry more than two of US
with any degree Of safety; and as all four ofthe
Nubians offered to go, was obliged to make
my own selection. So | took Lari, the voun-
gest OF the lot, but the brightest and most cool
and brave IN the presence Of danger. [ took
my rifle and pistols, while Lari took his rifle
and spear; and thus equipped, we set out
The canoe was easily managed while we kept
our proper places, and all ent on finely until
afternoon. It was very warmand sulry, and
had removed my Pistol-bet, and lard it in the
bottom Of the boat with my rifle. Lari had
Just proposed turning back, when | saw large
flock OF birds settle down upon tree close by
the shore, and bade my companion to help me
paddle IN that direction. He did not object
for he wanted shot at them himself
eve had become to within dozen iathoms
Of the shore, when quick, loud cry from Llri
startled me from my aim, and in the next in
slant the canoe struck upon some hard sub
stance.
'''A rock p asked.
ga hipPoPoamus = the Nubian shouted, spring
ing back toward me-
''Hardly had the words escaped his lips be-
fore huge black head was lifted above the
gunwaies, and as cast my eyes over into the
water, saw the whole body of the monster
1t was as large as an elephant, but ten times
more hideous in look. It's mouth was opened
to distance of three feet, or more and its
great teeth, all OF foot IN length, looked like
destruction Itself He seized the bow of our
boat in his capacious Jaws, and crushed II like
an egg she'll. With all the force | could mus
ter leaped into the water and struck out for
the shore. | never swan faster, though when
| reached the land found that the hIppopota-
mus had not followed US, having sunk to the
bottom, probably as soon as he had destroyed
the canoe.
awe were in a quandary. We had come
quite twelve or fifteen miles from the camp,
and we must foot it bacl; the best way we could
If we could have followed the shore, the task
would have been easy enough, but this we
could not do, for deep, dark swamp over
grown with reeds and bushes, and gnarled trees,
lay between US and our tent, so we must strike
up into the wood upon the higher land and
make the best of it. Our only weapons were
two knives and Lari's spear. The latter he had
grasped as he started from the boat, but The
rifles and pistols were at tie bottom OF the lake.
bade my companion take the lead, and he did
so.
"For three hours We tugged on through a
thick, matted forest, and at the end OF that time
we reached the end of wide expanse of rocky
desert There were clumps ofbushes scattered
over the place, but they looked dry and parch-
ed. Here we took an observation, and finally
decided to keep down on the right hand side 'ot
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 after
wards, just as the dark shadows spread over the
whole width ofthe plain, Lari uttered low
'hist' and placed bis hand upon my arm.
''sDo you hear anything - he asked me.
81 listened moment and told him, 'Yes;
perhaps they are coming after US
"'Who are they 2 SAID be.
"'Our party answered.
'''That fellow walks on four feet, and has