The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-03-23
NO. 81.
An Army Reviewed by q Lion.

AE, Army Reviewed by a Lion.
The author of a recsnt work on Algreia
relates the following incident which occur
red while marching with body of French
troops on their way to attack the Kabyles:
We had ridden carelessly forward, sd-
miring the view, or spsculating on the
game to be found in these mountain passes,
when ths sudden halt and the unslinging
o. carbines started Us. flushing past the
rear files, we galloped to the front just in
time to prevent the sergeant, who led the
advance firing ST a noble lion, who, adyan
cing toward the same path which we were
pursuing, had halted abruptly at our view.
He hsd evidently come from a different di-
rection TO the one We were pursuing and
was making TO the very pile Of the noun,
tains whose sombre colors had excited our
curiosity. Five minutes later and We
should not have seen him but as it hap
pened, there la stood, evidently very much
astonished at thus Pumping suddenly on
so large q party. Were we to fire, We
should doubtless either kill or mortaIy
wound the animal In the first case, all
would be well, and We she uld be the richer
by a lions skin in the second place, we
should be sure 10 lose one or more men,
and il was responsibility the young Off
Ger in commsnd not assume Hastily Civ
ing the order to unsling the csrbines, he
closed up the men with some difficulty,
for the horses were very restiye In case
the lion showed a di.posi ion to attack all
were to face ,oward him and it was TO be
| hoped that the general discharge would
prove mortal. II disposed to let US do SO
We were to pass him quietly.
have ofsea heard that the lion hy day
in no way resembles he same animal by
night During the darkness, seeking his
prey where lie can find it, lie will attack
anything with tbs greatest ferocity but
during the day tune, it being his proper
period Of sleep, and being, besides, gensr-
ally gorged witt food, lie seldom attacks
man In tie present instance, had lit.
lie confieuce N the effect of our fire, for
our horses, as their riders approached
thair dreaded enemy, became more and
more alarmed and restiys. The lion WAS
doubtless, tue oue had hesrd roar in tie
distance the pFeviou, night, and he had
been to the otbsr side, seeking his food
among the doaars Of the native tribes
nesr Tenieut, fTom which lie was now re-
turning TO bis den.
Our files well closed up, ws nesrsd the
lion, who showed no symptoms of fear
gazed at US, not ssgsgely, but apparently '
~ith great curiosity. Then be moved hi.
tail to and fro like cat and as We near
ed him he deliberately sat down on his
hind-qIartsrs, looking then, for all the
world ike queer colored large Nswtound-
iaud dog. Just a. We ranged up with him
passing by in single Gle, the horses heads
and 'slis we're together, be opened his large
mouth with a mighty yawn, u,terinp, Is
he did 40, a sound between heavy sigh
and s-owl. This he did withou. rising,
asd in n c.t sleepy manner, az though he
we're suprenely Indifferent to our presence
All this tI.. our horses we're terribly
excited, and my osn, jet black Syrian
barb which hsd csfried ne maay a mile
over he plains Of " s!lachins and Roums
lio, and who, from his intense love of mis-
chief aod fighting, had long slacs chris
tenei bashi Bazourk," WAS now complete
ly co~ed, and though waking at very
slow pace, his black coat was all white
~i,a te.,a ! was not fifteen pace. from
the lion, and could not resist the fancy
that seized me to -siu in and look at him
Trembling in every limb, my horss cbeysd
ire, and as the rear flea Of our escort
moved past, Contemplated the noble brute
He Was a splendid male. Of the color call
ed by The natives the "black ion," and
which, they say, is the most fsrc. and
terrible Of all. lie seemed sleepy and
quiet enough jast then, and did not even
lock at me The jing'ing of the mems
arms appeared to catch his attention aud
it was indeed but taoHsat's space that
va, allowed RE for contemplation, for a
slight move on his par, caused my horse
to bound aside so rs almost to uuhorse me,
anl when recovered nv seat snd nv
power over my frightened stesd, The sleepy
fellow had deliberately lain down, and
resting bis noble head on two mighty
paws, be followed us With his eyes A. We
moved s'o~l y away.