The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-07-25
The Lion In tine Desert.

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| A Bedouin chief, named Hassan
Mourad, was on one occasion proceeding
to rejoin his tribe, from an excursion to
a distant place. He was accompanied
by his wife and two children. He him
self was mounted on a splendid Arab
steed, of great value, which an Egyp-
tian traveller had given him in return
for some signal service during Journey
of great peril. His wife was mounted
uponSa camel. One child reposed in
her arms; the older one rode behind
her, clinging to the hugo saddle to
whose bows hung the large cooking and
drinking vessels that were the invariable
companions of their migratory move
ments. The Bedouin divided his praises
between the spirit of his horse, the do
cility and sagacity of his camel, and the
beauty of his wife, who belonged to a
tribe superior to his own.
The little family continued its wav
for some time without encountering any
danger They were fortunate in obtain
ing supplies OF water; and unlike the
generality of the Bedouins (who, strange
to say, never profit by experienced, they
did not content themselves with scanty
supply OF water at each oasis, but filled
their skins and vessels to the very
mouth. 1t was on the afternoon of the
sixth day of their journey that they
merged from broad UNMARRIED plain of
burning sand, upon hilly district-the
mounds and activities being here and
there covered with stunted shrubs and
few bushes of tamarick. Presently they
deserted hillock which seemed to af-
ford an inviting shade, and convenient
refuge for their evenings repast. The
children were fatigued; and it was ac-
cordingly determined to rest there for
an hour.
Toward the mound they accordingly
advanced. But suddenly the gallant
steed, of purest Goldolphin breed, reared
in alright, and neighed in a manner
that instantly struck terror to the little
family. Almost at the same moment
the camel emitted peculiar sound of
distress and agony, and fell upon her
knees. The mother and her two chill
dren were thrown off by this unexpected
movement and abrupt stoppage. The
Bedouin grasped his rife-alsoa present
from the traveller above alluded to-and
at that instant a terrible roar thundered
over the desert, raising the echoes of
every hillock and mound within an ex-
tensive circuit. Only few feet in ad-
vance OF the little party-and in spe-
cies OF cavern beneath the very hillock
whose shade was to have protected them
during their meal-an enormous lion
was preparing to spring upon his prey
A terrible scream came from the lips
OF the affrighted mother and the chill.
dren chung to her in breathless alarm.
The Bedouin did not, however, lose his
presence of mind. Scarcely had he un-
slung his rifle, when the tremendous
animal bounded through the air, and
fell upon the cameps back. In an in
stant-and before the report of the rife
was heard-the sand was dyed with
blood-the teeth of the lion were buried
in the poor animals tiesh-and pitcous
wall, almost resembling that of human
being, came from the throat of the i'm
potent and suffering creature. But the
rifle did pour forth a cloud of flame and
smoke; and almost simultaneously the
desert echoed a second time to roar
like that of thunder. The huge lion
fell from the neck of the camel, and
rolled over on the sand.
To spring from his horse was with the
Arab the work of moment; his quick
eye had perceived that the formidable
monster was wounded in a vital part ;
and drawing his long poniard, he sprang
on the prostrate monarch of those wilds.
The blow was well aimed; had it missed,
it might have gone hard with the Be-
douin, for the lion was yet possessed of
strength enough to inHict serious harm.
But the peniard was struck deep be-
tween the ribs which covered a vital
part; and, with horrible growl, the
monster rolled over and expired. The
reader must depict to himself the Joy of
the atfrighted family at this deliverance
but their satisfaction was marred by the
loss of their dear camel, for the poor
beast, in spite of all the attention Law
ished upon it, bled to death-licking its
masters hands as life ebbed slowly
away 1t is only necessary to add that
the woman and her two children were
now transferred to the horse, whom the
Bedouin led over the desert for the re-
mainder of the journey, the end of
which was reached in safety at length.