Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-30

4 blaze. The oxen, In their u1gnts CfOWOeu
almost into the iire, and By good luck the
lions did not venture TO attack them.
81 now gave up ell hope OF meeting the
game I had come out for; but was de-
ltermined not to return 70 the wagons
without something 10 show for our nights
watching. We had gone but . few rods
from the pool when small herd Of spring.
boks came bounding through thickct Of
thorn trees Just in front Of M. They ran
and leaped as though something had
frightened them; but without waiting t.
see what It was I fred both barrels II
amon@ them, and knccked over one q
the largest. Ny men all blAzcd awsy q
the same time, but without the smallest
effect.
II had Just taken my gun from my
shouldcY, when an enormous lion walked
out Of the tbicket and came slowly to-
ward US he was not more than 30 yards
Of, and there was no time to re load. !
was taken 20 completely by surprise that
for the first few seconds stood quite mo.
tionless and uncertain what to do. But /
then saw there was but one course for us.
When party OF natives 90 out with
their assagais and knives TO attack lion,
- they sometimes do, their custom Ii,
when they seea lion approach, 70 at down
on the ground in cluster.
"The lion, II no is In fighting mood,
singles out one of them, and pounces
upon him. Sometimes the unlucky man
IL killed at once by tho 6rst grip OF the
lions teeth and claws, bat more often he
only receives severe hurt Then the other
natives throw themselves Ill together
upon the animal; some seize his tail and
lift him up, which prevents him from
turning upon them, while others stab him
with their asssgais and cut him with their
knives; and frequently they manage TO
kill him without any loss of life In their
party. But sometimes the victory 10 on
the other side; the lion kills two or three
Of the natives, and the rest take to their
heels. It seemed to me Just possible that
by sitting down together, and showing
bold front, We might intimidste the lion,
and prevent him from attacking 40 until
I had time 70 reload.
II called out loudly, 'Siti sit Z and knelt
down myself on one knee at the same
moment, preparing to reioed II there
should be time. But, casting hasty
glance around, saw that all three of my
men had taken themselves of at full
speed as soon as the lion appeared, and
were already half way TO the hill which
was just on THIS side Of the wagons
apollo had started with the rest but
he told me afterward, and have no doubt
with truth, that he thought was running
also, only, not being 90 light footed as
they were, could not be expected TO
keep up with them. As the poor fellow
did not dare 10 look around, be did not
discover his mistake until they reached
the wagons.
ain this way was left alone to face
the lion. 1t was useless then for me to
run. II had started with the Nsmaquas
he would have had one of us, and most
probably myself, before We had gone fifty
yards. My gun was discharged and
while we were digging the trench, / had
given my hunting knife, which incom-
moded me, to Apollo; 70 that / was at
that moment completely disarmed.
81 gave myself up for lost, as matter
of course and, as / was kneeling there,
Just said, God help my poor wife and
children ! and waited tor the lion to
spring. But the fellow did not seem to
be in any hurry. He came slowly up,
slackening his pace by degrees, and at last,
when he was about twelve feet of, he
stopped and sat down on the ground like
q cat, looking me full in the face. sat
down also, and looked at him In return,
fixing my eyes upon his, and staring %
hard az / could.
"When was at school had read that
the lower animals could not endure the
steady gaze of man; and although
cannot say that my own experience had
ever confirmed this opinion, II occurred to
me to make the trial with the lion. But
really don't think It had much effect
upon him. Now and then he would shut
his eyes or look around TO one side or the
other, but that was all. Presently he lay
down, with his paws drawn up under
him, and his head resting on the ground
exactly like Cat watching . mouse. Al
the same time he kept occasionally lick.
ing his lips as though he had just finished
q meal. saw ut once what the rsscala
intention waa He had Just been feasting
on some animal he had killed, very likely
q spring box, and WAS not hungry. But
| he had made III his mind TO have mo for
his next meal and a. lions like their food
| fresh killed, the scouudrel was keeping
me until he had digested his breakfast
| Wasn't that an agreeable predicament FOL
Christian man, ~ the boys sayi"
There was no denying that It was ter
rible situation indeed. But had read In
some missionary work, Of Hottento'
who WAS kept prisoner by . lion In Z
similar way, and was watched steadily b.
HIM for . whole day but 1t night. II
remembered rightly, the Hottentot WA
overcome by exhaustion and went tC
sleep, and when he aw0ke the lioa VA
gone.
"Yes," replied tho trader, II have
heard OF the story. The H0ttentot wa
lucky fellow. You zee, the lion, In hi
disposition and habits, 10 nothing more MOI
less than great cat. Some people speak
of the lions msenanimity, and ascribe
some noble qualities to the beast; but that
Ii all nonsense. When lion ID mot hun.
CRY, If be meets with game no win fire..
quently pass 1t by without notice. He
viii seldom kill out Of mere want0nnesg
and cruelty. But neither will cat miles
It has been taught TO do 70. A cat, when
It Il not hungry, win sometimes play
with . mouse; that, you would think,
must not be from . cruel dispoAition; but
in reality II II only keeping tho creature
alive for it, next meal. Now, this II ex.
actly what the lion sometimes does, and
particularly one that has tasted human
flesh; 20 the natives, Ct least win tell
you.