Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-11-04

| ouaggas. and some other creatures, but
we did not waste our ammunition upon
| them, as we were in no want of meat;
and. besides q single shot would have
alarmed the lions, and prevented them
from approaching the water. Howev-
/ er we Jared no better by keeping quiet;
and soon after dawn we came out of
our grave, stiff, sleepy and sulky, with
out having had glimpse OF lion,
though we had heard them roaring in
the distance.
s'They had probably been attracted
| by our wagons and oxen; for they
| were prowling about them all night,
as we afterWard learned. The people
whom we had left with them were in
mortal terror, but had sense enough to
keep up a good blaze. The oxen, in
their fright, crowded almost into the
fire. and by good luck the lions did
not venture to attack them.
81 now gave up all hope of meeting
the game had come out for; but was
determined not to return to the " ag-
ons without something to show for our
nights watching. We had gone but
few rods from the pool, when small
herd of springboks came bounding
through a thicket of thorn-trees lust
in front of us. They ran and leaped as
though something had frightened them;
but without waiting to see what It was,
fred both barrels in among them,
and knocked over one of the largest.
MY men all blazed away at the same
time, but without the smallest effect.
''I had just taken my gun from my
shoulder, when an enormous lion
walked out of the thieket and came
slowly toward us. He was not more
80 yards off, and there was no time to
reload. I was taken so completely by
surprise that for the first few seconds
stood quite motionless and uncer-
tain what to do. But then saw there
was but one course for us When
party of natives go out with their as
sagais and knives to attack a lion, as
they sometimes do, their custom is,
when they see a lion approach. to sit
down on the ground in cluster.
ftThe lion, If he is in fighting mood,
singles out one one them, and pounces
upon him. Sometimes the unlucky
man is killed at once by the first grip
of the lions teeth and claws, but more
often he only receives a severe hurt
Then the other natives throw them
selves all together upon the animal;
some seize his tail and lift him up,
which prevents him from turning up
on them, while others stab him with
assagais and cut him with their
knives and frequently they manage
to kill him without any loss of life in
their party. But sometimes the YictO-
~ is on the other side the lion kills
| two or three of the natives, and the
rest take to their heels. 1t seemed to
me just possible that by sitting down
together, and showing bold front, we
might intimidate the lion, and prevent
him from attacking us until had
time to reload.
ST called out loudly, sit siti' and
knelt down myself on one knee, at the
some moment preparing to reload if
there should be time. But, casting
| hasty glance around, / saw that all
three of my men had taken themselves
off at full speed as soon as the lion ap-
peared, and were already half way to
the hill which was just on this side of
/ the wagons
"ApolIc had started with the rest
but he told me afterward, and I have
no doubt with truth, that he thought
was running also, only, not being so
light footed as they were, I could not
! be expected to keep up with them
As the poor fellow did not dare to
look around, he did not discover his
mistake until they reached the wag-
ons.
'sIn this way was left alone to face
the lion. It was useless then for me
to run. If had started with the Ma
maquas 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 dig
ging the trench, I had given my hunt
ing-knife, which incommOded me, to
AppoIlo so that l was at that moment
completely disarmed.
''I gave myself up for lost, as a mat
ter of course and, as / was kneeIing
there, I just said, GOD help my poor
wife and childrenP and waited for the
| lion to spring. But the fellow did not
seem be in any hurry. He came slow
ly up, slackening his pace by degrees,
/ and at last, when about twelve feet
| off, he stopped and sat down on the
| ground like a cat, looking me full in
! the face. I sat down also, and looked
4 at him in return, fixing my eyes upon
his and staring as hard as 1 could.
I t'When I was at school I had read
! that the lower animals could not en-
/ dure the steady gaze of man; and al
/ though cannot say that my own ex
! perience had ever cofirmed this Opin-
I ion, it 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 a cat watching mouse
/ At the same time he kept occasionally
4 licking his lips as though he had just
/ finished meal. I saw at once what
the rascal's intention was. He had
/ just been feasting on some animal he
! had killed, very likely a springbOk,
and was not hungry. But he had
made up his mind to have me for his
next meal; and as lions like their food
/ fresh killed, the scOundreI was keep
ing me until he had digested his break
fast. Wasn't that an agreeable predic-
ament for Chistian man, as the boys
say ?''
There was no denying that it was a
terrible situation indeed. But I had
read in some missionary work, of a
Hottentot who was kept a prisoner by
| a lion in similar way, and was watch
ed steadily by him for whole day /;
! i ri 10 y
the HOttentot was overcome by
| exhaustion and went to sleep, and
when he awoke the lion was gone.
YES" replied the trader, 81 have
/ hard the story. The HOttentot was a
1urky fellow. You see, the lion, in
MS habits, is nothing more nor less
than a great cat. Some people speak
of the lions magnanimity, and ascribe
noble qualities to the beast; but that
is all nonsense. When a lion is not
hungry, ii be meets with game he will
] frequently pass 1t by without notice.
/ He will seldom kill out of mere wan
tonness and cruelty. But neither will
a cat unless it has been taught 10 do so.
A cat, when it is not hungry, will
sometimes play with mouse; that,
/ you would think, must not be from a
cruel disposition; but IN reality 1t is
only keeping the creature alive for its
next meal. Now, this is exactly " hat
the lion sometimes does, and particu-
larly one that has tasted human flesh;
so the natives, at least, will tell you.
"The natives say that in such a case,
the lion usually waits for the man to
go to sleep, and then watches him till
he begins to move and shows signs of
awakening, when he pounces upon
him. In the case of the Hottentot, the
lion must have been frightened away
by something that occurred while the
man was asleep. For myself, / did not
doubt that the creature was watching
me with the intention Of waiting until
I had fallen asleep from exhaustion,
and then springing upon me at the first
, movement made. was safe enough
as long as could keep my eyes open
{ but if went to sleep, I should awake
in the lions jaws"
There was something so peculiarly
, frighttul, as we'll as unexpected in the
picture thus conveyed, that L could
not restrain shudder and and excla-
nation of horror!
j 20 don't be alarmed on my account, !"
said Hutton, with laugh 'you see ]