Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-24

An ARMY REVIEWED by A LIoN.-The author
of a recent work on Algeria relates the follow
ing incident, which occurred while marching
with body of French troops on their way to
attack the Kabyles:
We had ridden carelessly forward, admiring
the view, or specializing on the game TO be
found on these mountain passes, when the
sudden halt and the unsinging of carbnes
startled us. Pushing past the rear files, we
gallopcd to the front just in time to prevent
the sergeant, who led the advance, firing at
noble lion, who, advancing toward the same
path which we were pursuing, had halted ab-
ruptly Mt our view. He had evideRtly come
from different direction TO the end we were
pursuing, and was making to the very pile OF
mountains whose somber coOrs had excited
our curiosity. Five minutes later, and we
should not have seen him. but, as it happen-
ed, there he stood, evidently very much aston
ished at thus Pumping suddenly on so large
party. We're we to fire, we should doubtless,
either kill or mortally wound the animal. In
the first case, all would be well and should he
the richer by lions skin; in the second place,
we should be sure to lose one or more men,
and it was n responsibility the Young officer in
command would not assume. Hastily giving
the order to unsling the cnrbines, he closed up
the men with some difficulty, for the horses
were very restive. In case the lion showed
disposition to attack, nil We're 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. Dur
ing the darkness, seeking his prey where he
can find II, he will attack anything with the
greatest fcrocity but during the day-time it
being his proper period for sleep, and being
besides, generally gorged with food, he seldom
attacks man. In the present instance, had
little confidence in the effects of our fire, for
our horses, as their riders forced them to np-
proach their dreaded enemy, became moro and
more alarmed and restiye. The lion was,
doubtless, the one heard roar in the distance
other side seeking his food among the donats
of the native tribes near Teniet, from which he
was now returning to his den.
Our files well-cosed up we neared the lion,
who showed no sylntems of fear; gazed at us,
not sayagely, but apparently with great curl
osity. Then he moved his tail to and fro, like
large cat and, as we neared him, he delib-
erately sat down on his hind quarters looking
then, for all the world, like a queer-colored
large Newfoundland dog. Just as we ranged
up with him. passing up in single file, Eoyaes
heads and tails well together, he opened his
huge mouth with mighty yawn, uttering, as
he did so, sound between heavy sigh and
Vrowl. This he did without rising, and in
most sleepy manner, as though he were SUI
premely indifferent to our presence
All this time our horses were terribly excit-
cd, and my own, jet black Syrian barb, which
had carried me many a mile over the plains of
Wallachina and Roumelio, and who, from his
intense love of nischie. and fighting | had
long since christened "Dashi Hazourk," was
now completely cowed, and though walking
alta very slow pace, his black coat was all
white with foam, was not fifteen PAGES
| from the lion, and 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
contemplated the noble brute, He was a
splendid male of the color called by the natives
the " black lion," and which, they say, is the
most fierce and terrible Of all. He seemed
sleepy aud quiet enough ;@e. e. then, and did not
/ even look at me. The jinglnG 6. jtHa mons
arms appeared ta catch his attention and il
was indeed but moments space that was al
lowed me for contemplation, for a slight move
on his part caused my horse to bound aside SC
as to almost unhorse me, and when / recovered
my seat and my power over my frighted steed
the sleepy fellow had deliberately lain down
and resting his noble head on two might,
paws, he followed us with hseyesas we movet
slowly away.