Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-08-26
when they see lion approach, to sit down
IN the ground In q c1ratar f n

when they see lion approach, to sit down
on the ground In cluster ~
"Thc lion, If he is in fighting mood,
singles out one of 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 severe hurt. Then the other
natives throw themselves all together
upon the animal some seize his tail and
lifC him mp, 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 eide; 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 "a
bold front, we might intimidate the lion,
and prevent him from attacking us until
l had time to reload.
II called out loudly, sit stir and knelt
down myself on one knee at the same
moment, preparing to reload If there
should be time. But, casting hasty
glance around, saw that all three of my
men had taken themselves OFT 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 wagonsl
apollo had started with the rest; but
he told me afterward, and 1 have doubt
with truth, that he thought was running
also, only, not being so light footed as
they were, could not be expected to
keep-up with them. As the poor fellow
did not dare to look around, no did not
1feoouar HE ~ iotoEo until fhau Raaah ad
the wagons, g
ain this way was left alone to face
the lion. 1t was useless then for me to
run. If I had started with the Namaquas
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; so that l was at
that moment completely disarmed.
al gave myself up for lost as matter
of course; and, as was kneeling there
just said, God help my poor wife and
childrenp and waited TOR the lion tc
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
a cat, looking me full in the face. sal
down also, and looked at him in return
fixing my eyes upon his, and staring al
hard as could.
"When I was at school had read tina
the lower animals could not endure the
steady gaze OF man; and although
cannot say that my own experiences baC
ever confirmed this opinion, it occurred t.
me to make the trial with the lion. Blu
l really don't think it had much effec
upon him. Now and then he would shu
his eyes or look around to one side or tn,
other, but that was all. Presently he lay
down, with his paws drawn up unde
him, and his head resting on the ground
exactly Ikea Cat watching mouse. A
the came time he kept occasionally Hex
ing his lips as though he had Just tinishet
| a meal. saw at once what the rascal
intention was. He had just been fesstInl
on some animal he had killed, very likely
a spring box, and was not hungry. Blu
he had made up his mind to have me fo
his next meal; and as lions like their foot
fresh killed, the scoundrel was keeping
me until he had dIgested his breakfast
Wasn't that an agreeable predicament TO
Christian man, as the boys say?"
There was no denying that it was a ter
IlDlG SlLuGl1Ou luCCGu oub Adu IGdO II
some missionary work, of Hottento
who was kept prisoner By a lion in
similar way, and was watched steadily b.
hun for whole day; but at night, if
remembered rightly, the Hottentot wa
overcome by exhaustion and went t
sleep, and when he aWoke the lion wa
gone.
"Yes," replied the trader, az hav
heard of the story. The Hottentot wa
a lucky fellow. You see, the lion, in hi
disposition and habits, is nothing more no
less than great cat. Some people speal
of the lions msgnantmity, and ascrib
some noble qualities to the beast but tha
| is all nonsense. When lion is not hun
CRY, if he meets with game he will fire
quently pass it by without notice. H
| will seldom kill out of mere wantonnes
and cruelty, But neither will cat unles
it has been taught to do so. A cat, whel
it is not hungry, will sometimes pls
with mouse; that, you would thinh
must not be from cruel disposition bu
IN reality it is only keeping the creatur
alive for it's next meal. Now, this is ex
actly what the lion sometimes does, an
| particularly one that has tasted huma
| flesh; so the natives, at least, will te
| you. no
"The natives say that, in such q cas-
the lion usually waits for the man to g
to sleep, and then watches him till he bC
gins to move and show signs of awakint
when he pounces upon him. In the cas-
of the Hottentot, the lion must have bee
frightened away by something that o.
| Cured while the man was asleep. FC
myself, / did not doubt that the creatul
was watching me with the intention
waiting until should fall asleep from e.
haustion, and then springing upon me {
the first movement | made. | was saf
nough, so long as could keep my eye
open but if went asleep, should ce
tainly awake in the lions jaws" -i
There was something so peculiarl
frightful, as well as unexpected in the pi
ture thus conveyed, that could not r.
strain shudder and an exclamation
horrorl
80 don't be alarmed on my account
said Hutton, with a laugh; "you see
am here all alive and whole. only wal
you to understand what the danger real
was before tell you how escaped. 70
know had been up all night, and ";
| tolerably hungry and tired. / had brougl
flask full of water with me, and had ju
emptied it that morning; so that, b
good luck, was not at all thirsty. Bl
for that, / do not know how 1 shoul
have been able TO hold out through Il
day. E .."
"The sun came up bright and clear,
1t usually is in those deserts, with ablai
of heat, which was reflected from ii
sand about me until it seemed to burn m
skin. / had broad -brimmed felt ha
with ostrich feathers around it, whiC
warded off the direct rays; but still
think never felt the sun more oppre
sive perhaps it was because was wes
from fasting and want of rest. Still
kept my selfpossession, and was constsr
ly on the watch TO take advantage of {
opportunity for my escape --r
~ HThere was just chance that my mi
might muster courage enough to con
down in u body 10 my relief; but b
lieved them to be too chicken-hearted
approach within quarter of a. mile of
lion, and besides, there was the probabi
ity that the brute, if he should see the
approaching, would spring upon me al
put me out of suspense at once"
asked "if he did not try to load h
gum"
| unf oo,,.sa didO 10 o,,.,..-.l ~