Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-06-17
A THRILLING ADVENTURE
WITH a LION.

November, and our ship was off the coast
of Tripoli. A party of US, who sat up
on the quarterback, had been conversing
upon various subjects concerning the vast
desert to the southwark of us,
Il think you have travelled across the
desert ? said one of our number, address
ing the captain.
Not exactly replied Captain Bush
wick.
Some years ago spent few months
in Abyssinia and the country south of
it,
WAS it there you had your adventure
with the lion ?
Ah-you've heard of that scrape,
eh?'
Only that you had such an adventure,
captain. Your mate told me you had
met the animal
Well have; and if you would like
to hear the yarn, will tell it.
A vote was Immediately and unani- |
mously carried that Captain Bushwick
have permission to relate his adventure
and without further preliminaries he pro-
ceeded:
1t is now fve-and-twenty years since
/ took the notion to travel among the
A T j
in Mocha, engaged in trade there, and /
had gone out to see him. He was going
into Abyssinia on business, and accom-
panied him. Our party consisted of six
my uncle and self, and four Nubian
servants. These Nubians were faithful
fellows, and long tried, and were, more
over, strong and fearless, having lived
with my relative several years. When
the business was over, proposed that
we should take trip to the southwark,
and see the country. The Nubians were
anxious TO go, and, and after deal of
persuasion, my uncle consented to the ar
rangement.
On the seventh day we reached
large lake upon the extreme southern
border of Abyssinia, where we pitched
our tent, and then went hunting for game,
we having been informed that we should
find plenty of both fsh-much more so
than 1 had expected,-and fowl in this
region. Our luck was moderate, my uu
Gle was bent on returning, but was de-
termined to have few more trials.
The only boat we had been able to
find was small canoe, fashioned from
log, and one morning l declared that /
would take cruise in it if some one
would accompany me. The canoe could
not carry more than two of us with any
degree of safety; and as all four of the
Nubians offered to go, was obliged to
make my own selection. So took Lari,
the Youngest of the lot, but the bright
est and most cool and brave in the pres
ence of danger. ! took my rife and
pistols, while Lari took his rife and
spear; and thus equipped, we set OUT
The canoe was easily managed while we
kept our proper places, and all went on
finely until afternoon. 1t was very warm
and sultry, and l had removed my pis'
tol belt, and laid it in the bottom of tht
boat with my rife. Lari had just pro-
prosed turning back, when ! saw large
lot of birds settle on upon tree close
by the shore, and bade my companion
to help me paddle in that direction. HI
did not object, for he wanted shot a
them himself
I'VE had come to within dozen ia
thoms of the shore, when quick, lout
CRY from Lari startled me from my aim
and the next instant the canoe struck up
on some hard substance.
"A rock?' 1 asked.
"A hippopotamus = the Nubian shout
ed springing back toward me.
Hardly had the words escaped hi
lips before huge black head was LITE
above the gunwales, and as cast m
eyes over the water, | saw the whole bod
of the monster. 1t was as large as a
elephant, but ten times more hideous i
look. His mouth was opened to a diI
lance of three feet, or more, and its gre'
teeth, all of foot in length, looked lik
destruction itself. He seized the bows
our boat in his capacious jaws, and crusl
ed it like an egg shell. With all the fore
I could muster Ileaped into the water an
struck out for shore. / never swal
faster, though when l reached the land
found that the hippopotamus had not TO
lowed us, having sunk to the bottom pr
badly as soon as he had destroyed I'll
canoe.
We were in a quandry. We ha
come quite twelve or fifteen miles fro
a