Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-03-07

should be the richer by lions skin; in
the second place, we should be sure to lose
one or more men, and it was responsible
ity 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 restive. In case the lion showed a
disposition to attack, all were to face to-
ward 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.
1 have often heard that the lion by day
in no way resembles the same animal by
night. During the darkness, seeking his
prey where he can find it, he will attack
anything with the greatest ferOcity; but
during the daytime, it being his proper
period for sleep, and being besides, general
ly gorged with food, he seldom attacks man.
In the present instance, had little conf
dence in .ne effects Of our fire, for our
horses, as their riders forced them to ap-
proach their dreaded enemy, became more
and more alarmed and restive. The lion
was, doubtless, the one l had heard roar in
the distance the previous night, and he had
been to the other Side, seeking his food
among the donars of the native tribes near
Teniet, from which he was returning to his
den.
Our files well closed up, we neared the
lion, who showed no symptoms of fear;
gazed at US not savagely, 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, looking then, for all the
world, like a queer-colOred, large New
foundland dog. Just as we rained up with
him, passing by in single file, the horses
heads and tails well together, he opened
his huge mouth with mighty yawn, utter
ing, as he did so, sound between heavy
sigh and grOwl. This he did without
rising, and in most sleepy manner, as
though he were supremely Indifferent to our
presence.
All this time our horses were terribly
excited, and my own, jet black Syrian
barb, which had carried me many mile
over the Wallachina and Roumelio, and
who, from his intense love of mischief and
fighting, 1 had long since christened "Bashi-
BazOurk, " was now complenely cowed, and
though walking at very slow pace, his
black coat was all white with foam. l was
not fifteen PAGES from the lion, and 1 could
not resist the fancy that seized me to rein
in and look at him. Trembling in every
limb, my horse obeyed me, and as the rear
files of our escort moved past. l contempla-
ted the noble brute He was a splendid
male, of the color called by the natives the
"black ion," 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 appeared to catch his attention;
and it was indeed but a moments space
that was allowed me for contemplation, for
a slight move on his part caused my horse
to bound aside so as almost to unhorse me,
and when l recovered my seat and my
power over my frightened steed, the sleepy
follow had deliberately lain down, and rest
ing his noble head on two mighty paws, he
followed US with his eyes as We moved
slowly away.