Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-09
Lion Adyenture in Algeria,

my head, and directly afterward received
blow on the head through the side of the tent
which made me think for moment had beer
struck by an iron bar with claws at the END
which carried with me in my wagon but IN
an instant the idea flashed across me that it was
a lion that was shifting at me through the back
of the tent If remained there without NOV
ing, there was the probability OF the beast tear
ing up the tent and dragging me through. Or
the other hand an attempt to move closer to the
fire would probably be detected, as the lion la:
the same characteristics as the cat, and would
have carried me off. While hestatiDg what to
do, the animal, most likely from not being able
any longer to feel me through the wall OF the
tent, must have turned away, for after what was
in fact, but few moments, which seemed
very long time, there was terrific shrek; fol-
lowed by a low, deep growing, and then shot
and louder growl.
felt about for my revolver, which | had
placed beside my head before going to sleep, and
creeping round the tent, saw the horrid beast
standing perfectly still, with glarng eyes, and
continuing the same low, deep growing, and
holding in his mouth the body of man, which
he occasionally lowered to the ground as II with
the intention of taking frmer hold, but never
entirely letting 90 of It. saw by the direction
of his look that he caught sight of me, and 80
terrible were the associations connected with
the beast in my mind that dared not move or
breathe for some seconds, when the thought
suddenly occurred to me that it must be the
body of Hamed that he had in his mouth. My
liking for this man had become 80 strong
that the desire to rescue or avenge him drove
every feeling of fear out of my mind, and, with
steady aim, l fired at his body just behind the
shoulder. Singularly enough, although l knew
had hit him, he merely gave loud growi ana
remained stationary, without relaxing his hold
of the Arabs body.
How long he would have remained in this
state of imlnobilty can't say, but was just a.
bout to try the effect of second shot when a
regular yolley of guns was fired from out of the
darkness; the beast sprsng forward toward me,
almost at the same instant that felt a sharp
singing sensation in the uppe- part OF my arm,
and he fell to the ground, so close to me that l
stepped back to avoid blow from bis paws in
his death struggles They did not last long, and
as soon as they were over l fetched lighted
brand from the fire, and first holding it to the
face of the dead man to see who 1t was, and
feeling much relieved at finding it was not Ham
ed, l waved it about as signal for the others
that they might come with safety. They soon
came and clustered round the body of the dead
lion, some kicking it, and others splitting on and
revilng it, and all of them claiming the honor OF
having killed him-a claim that they seemed
more Interested in defending than in comlnisera-
ting the fate of their dead companion.
All the efforts we made to release the latter
unfortunate from the jaws of the lion were una.
vailing without having recourse to our knives,
and as there was not the least doubt about his
being dead, for the teeth of the powerful brute
were buried in his chest and back, we deter
mined to leave both bodies where they were till
daylight. The first thing l did when awoke
was to look for the bodies of the Arab and the
lion. They were lying where the beast had
fallen in the night, and his stiffened jaws still
held the body Of the man as in powerful vice.
The desire of preserving record of the event
for my friends in England to look at was too
strong to be resisted 50 we went to work, cut
three pieces of timber to point, and having
raised the lion to an upright position, kept him
up by means of the pieces of wood. To con-
ceal these, planted shrub here and there,
which had the desired effect, and the result
obtained was a negative, the like of which / be-
lieve was never seen. The attitude is as natu-
raj as possible, and makes one shudder to look
at it.-Photographic Neaos.