The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-08-25
when they see a lion approach, to sit down
on the ground in a cluster.

Wnen they see a lion approach, to sit down
on the ground in a cluster.
"The lion, if he is in fighting mood
singles out n OF them, and pounces
upon him. Sometimes the unlucky man
Is Killed at once by the fret grip of the
hon teeth and claws, but more often he
only receives severe hurt. Then the other
natives throw themselves all together
upon the animal; some seize his tail and
BID him up, which prevents him from
turning upon them, while others stab him
with their 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 victory 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 q
bold front, we might intimidate the lion,
and prevent him from attacking US until
| had time to reload.
Il called but loudly, Sit sit 7 and knelt
down my self on Il knee at the same
moment, preparing to reload if there
should be time. But, casting a hasty
glance around, | saw that all three of my
men had taken themselves off 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 wagonsi
apollo had started with the rest; but
he told me sfterward, and | have no doubt
with truth, that he thought l was running
also, only, not being so light footed as
they we're, l could not be expected to
keep up with them. AS the poor fellow
did not dare to look around, be did not
diecoyer his mistake until they reached
the wagons.
"In this way l was left alone to face
the lion. 1t was useless then for me to
run. If l had started with the N~amaquas
be would hs7e had one of US, and most
probably myself, before we had gone fifty
yards. Ny gun was discharged; and
while we were digging the trench, I had
given my hunting-knife, which incom-
NODDED me, to Apollo; so that | was at
that moment completely disarmed.
81 gave myself up for lost, as a matter
of course; and, as | was kneeling there,
l just said, God help my poor wife and
children! and waited Tor the lion to
spling. 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 off, 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 as
hare as | could.
"When | was at school l had read that
the lower snimals could not endure the
steady gaze OF a man and although |
cannot say that my own experience had
ever confirmed this opinion, 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
bis eyes or look around TO one side or the
other, but that was all. Presently he Law
down, with his paws drawn up under
him, and his head resting on the ground,
exactly like a CT watching a mouse. At
the saline time he kept occasionally lick
ing mis- hps So though he had Just finished
a meal. Isaw at once .wIat the rascal's
intention was. He had just been Teasing
on some animal re had killed, very likely
a spring-bOk, and was not hungry. But
he had made up his mind To have me tor
his next meal and as lions like their food
fresh killed, the scoundrel was keeping
WasnJthat an agreeable predicament tor
q Christian man, as the boys say ?"
There was nc denying that it was a ter
Tible situation indeed. But | had read in
some missionary work, of a H~ottentot
who was Kept prisoner By q lion in q
similar way, and was watched steadily by
hun for a whole day but st night, if 1
remembered rightly, the Hottentot was
overcome by exhaustion and went to
slee7, and when he awoke the lion was
gone.
"Yes," replied the trader, 81 have
heard of the story. The Hottentot was
a lucky fellow. You see, the lion, in his
disposition add habits, is nothing more nor
less than a great cat. Some people spesk
OF the lions ~maenanlmity, and ascribe
some noble qualities to the beast; but that
is a1l nonsense. When a lion is not hun
cry, if he meets with game he will fire.
quently pass it by without notice. He
will seldom Kill out of mere wantonness
and cruelty. But neither will a cat unless
il has been taught to do so. A cat, when
it is not hungry, will sometimes play
with q mouse; that, you would think.
must not be from a cruel disposition but
IN reality it is only keeping the creature
alive for its mex meal. Now, this is ex-
actly what the Ion sometimes does, and
particularly one that has tasted human
flesh; so the natives, at least, will tell
you.
"The natives say that, in such q case,
the lion usually waits for the man to 60
to sleep, and then watches him till he be-
gins to move and show signs Of awaking,
when he pounces upon him. In the case
of the Hottentot, the lion must have been
frightened away by something that &c
CURED while the man was asleep. For
myself, | did not doubt that the creature
was watching me with the intention of
waiting until l shOuld fall asleep ron ex-
haustiOn, and then springing upon me st
the first movement l made. l was safe,
noagh, so long as l could keep my eyes
open; but if | went asleep, | should Ger
tainly awake in the lions jaws"
There was something so peculiarly
frightful, 90 well as unexpected in the pic
ture thus conveyed, that l Gould not re-
strain q shudder and an exclamation Of
horrori
90 don't b. alarmed on my account"
said Hutton, with a laugh; "you see |
am here all alive and whole. / only want
You to understand what the danger really
was before | tell you how | escaped. You
know / had been up all night, and was
talerably hungry and tired. l had brought
a TASK full Of water with me, and hsd just
emptied il that morning; SO that, by
good luck, | was not at sll thirsty. But
Tor that, / do rot know how | should
have been able 20 hold out through the
day.
Tine sim wme no bright and clear, as
it usually is in those deserts, with a blaze
of heat, which, vas reflected from the
sand about me until it seemed to burn my
skin. / had a broad -brimmed felt hat,
with ostrich feathers around it, which
warded off the erect rays; but still L
think | never felt the sun more Oppres
sive perhaps ii was because l was weak
from fasting and want Of rest. SILL 1
kept my self possession, and was constant
ly on the watch to take advantage OF an
opportunity for my escape.
"There was inst o chance hat my men
might muster courage enough 10 come
down in a body to my relief; but I be-
lleyed them to be too chicken hearted to
approach within aqusrter of q mile of a
lion, aud besides, there was the probable
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