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

1t was warm, pleasant evening in Novem.
Der, and our ship was off the coast of Tripoi
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 :" said one Of our number, addressing the
captain.
"Not exactly" replied Captain Bushwick.
<'Some years ago | spent few months in
Abyssinia, aud The country south OF it,
''Was It then you had your adventure with
the lion 20
'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"
"Well, have; and if you would like to hear
the yarn, I will tell it."
! A vote was Immediately and unanimously
! carried that Captain BuShwck had permission
! to relate his adventures and without further
| preIiminarIes 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 siX-my 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 nv rela-
tive several years. When the business was
over, l proposed that we should take trip to
the southwark, and see the country. The NJ
blanS were anxious to go, and, after deal of
persuasion, my uncle consented to the arrange
ment.
son the seventh day we reached a large
lake upon the extreme southern border of Abvs-
SInia, where we pitched our tent, and then
went hunting for game, we having been rnfor-
med that we should find plenty OF both fish
much more so than had expected and fowl
in this region Our luck was moderate, my
uncle was bent on returning, but was deter
mined to have few more trials.
''Tbe only boat we had been able to fed was
a small canoe, fashioned from log, and one
morning declared that I would take a cruise
in it il 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 90, was obliged to make
my own selfctton. 81 took Lari, the youn-
gsr oi the iot, Uur me 0rIghIest ana most v,oI
and brave IN the presence of danger. | took
my Iifle and pistols, vi bile Lari took his rifle
and spear; AID thus equipped, we set out
The canoe was easily managed while we kept
our proper places, and all went on finely until
afternoon. II was very warm and sultry, and
had removed my pistol-belt, and laId it in the
bottom Of the boat with my rifle. Lai had
Just proposed turning back, when | saw large
flock Of birds settle down upon a tree close by
the shore, and bade my companion to help me
paddle IN that direction. He did not object,
Tor he wanted shot at them himself
awe had become 10 within dozen fathoms
Of the shore, when a quick, loud cry from Lat
startled me from my aim, and in the next IN
slant the canoe struck upon some hard sub
stance.
":A rock q l asked.
GA hippopotamus! the Nubian shouted, spring.
ing back toward me.
"HardIy had the words escaped his lips be-
fore a huge black head was lifted above the
gunwaies, and as l cast my eyes over into the
water, saw the whole body OF the nonster.-
1t was as large as an elephant, but ten times
more hideous in look. It's mouth was opened
to a distance of three feet, or more, and its
great teeth, all OF loot IN length, looked ike
destruction tsei. He seized the bow Of our
boat in his capacious jaws, and crushed 1T like
an egg she'll. With all the force | could mus
ter / leaped into the water and struck out tor
the shore. | never swan faster, though when
| reached the land found that the hlppopota-
mus had not followed US, having sunk 10 the
bottom, probably as soon as he had destroyed
the canoe.
"We were in a quandary. We had come
quite twelve or fifteen miles from the camp,
and we must foot 1t back the best way could.
II 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
thick, matted forest, and at the end of that lime
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 OF
the rocky plain, knowing that the lake must lie
IN that directions. By the time we bad 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
'hst' and placed his hand upon my arm.
"'Do you hear anything % he asked me.
Il listened moment and told him, Yes;
perhaps they are coming after u.s.
"sWho are they g SAID he.
"'Our party answered.
"'That fellow walks on four feet, and has a