New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-03-12
An Army Reviewed BY q Lion.

The author Of recent work on Algeria relates
the following incident. which occurred while march
ing with body Of French troops on their way to
attack the Kabyies:
We had ridden carelessly forward, admiring the
view, or specializing on the game to be found IN
those mountain passes, when the sudden halt and
the unslinging of carbines startled Us. Pushing
past the rear files, galloped to the front just m
time to prevent the Sergeant, who led the advances
firing at . noble lion, who, advancing toward the
same path which we were pursuing had halted abb
ruptly at our view. He had evidently come from
a different direction to the one we were pursuing,
and was making to the very pile of mountains
whose sombre colors had excited our curiosity.
Five minutes later and we should not have not seen
him; but as it happened, there he stood, evidently
very much astonished ct thus Pumping suddenly ON
SO large party. We're we to fire, we should
doubtless either kill mortally wound the animal.
In the first case all would be we'll and we should
be the richer by lions skin; in the second place,
we should be sure to lose one or more men, and Il
was responsibility the young officer in command
would not assume. Hastily giving the order to un-
sling the carbines he closed up the men with some
difficulty, for the horses were very FESTIVE. In case
the lion showed disposition to attack, all were to
| face toward him, and it was to be hoped that the
general discharge would prove mortal If disposed
| to let us do so, we were to pass him quietly.
have often heard that the lion by day in no way
resembles the same animal by night During the
darkness, seeing his prey where he can find it, he
will attack anything with the greatest ferocitys
of sleep, and being, besides. generally gorged with
food, he seldom attacks man. In the present in
stance, had little confidence in the effect Of our
fire, for our horses as their riders approached the
dreaded enemy, become more and mere alarmed
and FESTIVE. The lionwas, doubtless, the one had
heard in the distance the previous night, aud
he had been to the other side, seeking his food
among the donors Of the native tribes near Tenient
from which he was now returning to his den.
Our files well closed up, we neared the lion, who
showed no symptoms Of fear gazed at us, not
sayagely, but apparently with great curiosity
Then he moved his tail to and fro like large cat.
and as we neared him he deliberately sat down on
his headquarters, locking then for oil the world
like D queer-eolored large Newfoundland dog
just We ranged up with him. passing by 10 single
fle the horses heads and tails were together, he
opened his large mouth with mighty yawn, hitter
tering, as he did so, sound between heavy sigh
and growl. This he did without rising, and in .
most sleepy manaar, as though he were supremacy
Indifferent to our presence
All this time our horses were terribly excited,
and my own, jet-blaek Syrian barb, which had
carried me many mile over the plains of Walla-
china and Roumelio, and who, from his intense e
of mischief and fighting, | had long since chriss-
ened g Bashi- Bazourk,n was now completely
cowed, and though walking at avery slow pace,
his black coat was all white with foam. was not
fifteen PAGES from the on and could not resist the
fancy that seized me to rein in and look at him.
Trembling in every limb my horse obeyea me,
and as the rear files of our escort moved past,
contemplated the noble brute. He was splendid
male OF the color called by the natives the 8 black
lion,n and which they say is the most fierce and
terrible of all. He seemed sleepy and quiet
enough just then, and did not even look at me.
The jangling of the mems arms seemed to catch
his attention, and indeed it was but moments
space that was allowed me for contemplation, for
slight move on his part caused my horse to bound
aside SO as to almost unhorse me, and when ! re-
covered my seat and my power over my right
ened steed, the sleepy fellow had deliberately lain
down, and resting his noble head on two mighty
paws, lie followed us with his eyes as we moved
slowly away.