The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-06-17


ping me by the arm, he pointed into the wood.
"'Look See There ? he cried, whirling
me half around as he spoke.
81 did look-and | saw a sight-a sight that
made my hair stand and my heart leap. Not a
rifle NOT even pistol and yet there-not
twenty yards distant-was a huge Nubian lion
crawling toward US. I could see his eyes burn
[ could see his long tail sweep the grass; and
could see that he was advancing for spring.
'"He's hungry said the Nubian, or he
would not be coming on in that way
" Then he'll attack us suggested.
"FOf course he will"
And not a weapon for defense .,
! "l have my spear returned Larl. NOW
10 the back of those bushes-quick-an let
him come. Have your knife out in case OF
need.
81 hardly knew what my companion meant,
but saw, Just upon our left, a clump of
bushes bearing a small red berry. They were
not over four feet high, and occupied space
some eight feet long by four wide When we
had gained position behind them, | looked
for the lion. He bad stopped as he saw us
take this covert, but we were hidden.from his
sight, as there were openings in the foliage
I through which both parties could obtain view
of each other.
COVE are gone :! said 7, trembling with fear,
as saw the huge monster settle upon his belly
and move toward us.
Perhaps not whispered Lari, without
taking his eye from the lion. keep still
don't move, for your life =
"'But what can you do with that spear ?" I
asked.
"'Perhaps nothing-but wait and see .
81 did wait bat though it was only few
moments, yet 1t was season of terrible sus-
Pense to me. | am not a CO ward, nor was !
ever one but come TO be situated as was then,
with tull-grown lion before you, not twenty
yards of and only little patch of bushes as an
apology for shelter, through which the beast
could watch your every movement, and with
that unearthly purrng, roaring growl, hardly
Perceptl5le in tone, but making the air trembe
with its lntenslty-have all this, as I had it
then, and If you don't trembIe, then you are
made of sterner stuff than most men.
"Once cast my eyes upon Lari, who was at
my right, and | saw that he was as calm as a
rock. His great brown eye was fixed upon the
hon with burning gaze, and his teeth were
set like the jaws OF Ee was upon hi1
right knee, with his left foot braced before him,
and his long spear, which he held with firm
grasp, had the end of the shaft sci against the
hard ground behind him, with the sharp steel
head elevated just to the top of bushes.
"'Hlstn he uttered, gathering himself for
an effort and | turned | saw the lion
cautiously advancing upon his belly. When
about five yards off he stopped and gathered
himself for spring. saw his huge claws
settle into the ground, and I saw his great
shaggy head start upward, as he lett his couch
With my heart as still as death I bowed my
head and shrank down toward the earth. I.
heard a shock--a momentary struggIe-a
crashing sound, as Of the breaking of wood -
and then | was knocked over by heavy body
coming in contact with my shoulder. With
powerful effort struggled from beneath the
weight and gained my feet.
"Ihe first thing | saw was Lari, for If was
be who bad fallen against me. The next was
the lion, who lay only few feet of, with the
head Of the spear buried deep in his throat, the
shalt being broken of about midway He was
roaring with deep hoarse sound, and tearing
the dirt up with his claws
"l think that found his heart before it
broke said Lari, as he gained his feet. 'Ii the
shaft bad held l would have pinned him
through the heart, and sent him twenty feet
over behind us. But, tell you, he's heavy
one to lift.
''The monster was dead ic a few minutes,
and we then held an examination. The lance
head had entered the lower part of the throat,
directly beneath the foreshoulder, aud gone
clean through the heart.
d" you must have had good aim,' said I.
q But it was a good mark replied Lari.-
'When | saw him coming, | bad Just turned |
the point right for his heart, and he killed !
HIMSELF
at was all very SIMPLE, and it may have
been very easily done but, 1 assure YOU, |
man must have pretty steady nerve to do it |
efecualv.
F'We could not move the lion then. nor
could we stop to take bis skin off, for it was |
very nearly dark. So we resolved TO wait |
until morning, and then have help.
"When we reached the lower corner of the |
waste, we saw glmmerin5 of water through |
the trees aud, upon pushing our way down.
we were lucky enough TO find ourselves only |
few rods from the tent. On the next morning
we all went out together, and found the lion |
Just as we had left him. HIS body measured. |
from the end Of his nose to the insertion of his |
tal, eight feet and nine inches, aud when siam |
ding, he must have been nearly five feet hirh. |
We took off his skin very carefully. and |
when | reached home had it stuffed and set
up. 1t looks very innocent now as nv Chi |
dren pat 1t with their hands +; but l never look |
at 1t without thinking of the time when it |
looked terrible enough to me.'
The WIIamsport Gazette, Governor
Packers home organ, last week raised the |
names OF Wright and Rowe to ITS masthead. |