Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-09-23

ly prowled around our thorn fence durin
the night. One night in particular lio
attempted to enter. but had been repulse,
by the Tokroois who had pelted him witt
firebrands; my people woke me up, begget
me to shoot him, but as it was perfectl,
impossible to fire correctly through tn,
hedge of thorns, refused to be disturbed
yet [ promised to hunt for him the follow
ing day. Throughout the entire night tn,
lion prowled around the camp, growing
and utering his peculiar cultural sigh
Not one of my people slept, as they de
clared he would bound into camp and tax,
somebody, unless they kept up the watch
fires and drove him away with brands
The next day, before sunrise, | called Has
san and Hadji Ali, whom lectured severe
ly upon their cowardice on former occa
sion, and received their promise to follow
me to death l intrusted them with my
two Reillys No. 10 and with my little
Fletcher in hand, l determined to spend
the whole day in searching every thicket
of the forest for lions, as felt convinced
that the animal that had disturbed us dur
ing the night was concealed somewhere
within the neighboring Jungle
The whole day passed fruitlessly; | had
crept through the thickest thorns in vain;
having an abundance of meat, had re-
fused the most tempting shots at buffaloes
and large antelopes, as | had devoted my
self exclusively to lions. | was much
disappointed, as the evening had arrived
without shot having been fired, and as
the sun had nearly set | wandered slowly
/ ar1S bN,pa DacSincy tbrOuob ol+ 10
open glades few yards in width, hemmed
in on all sides by a thick jungle, L was
carelessly carrying my rifle upon my shoul-
der as pushed my way through the oppos-
ing thorns, when sudden roar, just before
me, at once brought the rife upon full
cock, and [ saw magnificent lion stand
ing in the middle of the glade about ten
yards from me; he had been lying on the
ground, and had started to his feet upon
hearing me approach through the jungle,
For an instant he stood in an attitude of
attention, as we were hardly visible; but
at the same moment L took quiet but
sure shot with the little Fletcher He
gave convulsive bound, but rolled over
backwards; before he could recover him
self fired the left hand barrel. 1t was
glorious sight. | had advanced few
steps into the glade, and Hassan had quick
ly handed me a spare rifle, while Taber
Moor stood by me sword in hand. The
lion, in the greatest fury, with his shaggy
name bristling in the air, roared with
death-like growls, as open-mouthed he en-
deavored to charge upon us !; but he drag
ged his headquarters on the ground, and
| saw Immediately that the little Fletcher
had broken his spine. In his tremendous
exertions to attack he rolled overland over,
gnashing his horrible jaws, and tearing
holes in the sandy ground at each blow of
his tremendous paws that would have
crushed mans skull like an egg-shell.
Seeing that he was horS de combat, | took
it coolly, as it was already dusk, and the
lion having rolled into dark and thick
bush, | thought it would be advisable to
deter the final attack, as he would be dead
before morning. We were not ten min
utes' walk from the. camp, at which We
quickly arrived, and my men greatly re-
joiced at the discontinue of their enemy,
as they were convinced that he was the
same lion that had attempted to enter the
zareeba.
On the following morning before sun
rise, | started with nearly all my people
and a powerful camel, with the intention
of bringing the lion home entire. [ rode
my horse Tetel, as he had frequently
shown great courage, and | wished 10
prove whether he would advance to the
body of the lion.
Upon arriving near the spot which we
supposed to have been the scene of the en-
counter, we were rather puzzled, as there
was nothing to distinguish the locality one
country was fat and sandy, interspersed
with thick jungle of green nabbuk we ac-
cordingly spread out to beat for the lion
Presently Hadji Ali cried out There he
lies, dead ~ and [ Immediately rode to the
spot, together with the people. A tre-
mendous roar greeted US, as the lion start
ed to his fore-feet and with his beautiful
name erect, and his great hazel eyes
flashing fire, he gave a succession of deep
roars, and challenged US to fight This was
grand picture; he looked like true lord
Of the forest, but [ pitied the poor brute,
as he was helpless, and although the spirit
was game to the last, his strength was par
allied by broken back.
1t was a glorious opportunity for the
horse. At the first unexpected roar the
camel had bolted with its rider; the horse
had for a moment started on one side, and
the men had scattered but in an instant
had refined Tetel up, and | now rode
straight towards the lion, as he courted the
encounter about twenty PAGES distant. |
halted exactly opposite the noble looking
beast, which, seeing me in advance Of the
party, increased his rage and he growled
deeply, fixing his glance upon the horse.
| now patted Tetel on the neck, and spoke
to him coaxingly; he gazed intently at the
lion, erected his name and snorted, but
boy" said, and encouraged him by ca
ressing his neck with my hand. touched
his flank gently with my heel; l let him
just feel my hand upon the rein, and with
a i" Come along, old lad," Tetel slowly but
resolutely advanced step by step towards
the lnfurlated lion, that greeted him with
continued growls. The horse several times
snorted loudly, and stared fixedly at the
terrible face before him; but as | con-
stantly patted and coaxed him, he did uot
refuse to advance. [ checked him when
within about six yards from the lion. This
would have made magnificent picture,
the horse, with astounding courage, faced
the lion at bay; both animals kept their
eyes fixed upon each other, the one beaming
with rage, the other with cool determina-
ton. This was enough dropped the
reins upon his neck; it was signal that
Tetel perfectly understood, and he stood
firm as a rock. for he knew that | was