Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-04-11

thy steps were heard approaching the
dead pig, and soon two hymnns we're
busily employed in feasting on it. The
noises we made in the tree alarmed
them, but they were not to be baked
of their feast, for seizing. huge piece
Of pig, they scampered off to distance
with it. After finishing this piece they
would sneak up to the carcas, lay hold
Of II fresh piece, and rush off with that.
The hypnas between them nearly finish
ed tho pig, the remains were satisfac-
torily accounted for by some jaokals,
and what appeared in the dim light to
he ichneunons. The latter fought and
squabbled over the bones and scraps
like SO many hungry dogs, and by day
light We found scarcely a sign Of the
wild pig, all that remained of it being
some blood on the dry grass where Il
had fallen.
It is surprising tho amount of ami
NAL life that moves about by night in a
wild country. No one would for mo-
ment suspect that in his immediate
neighborhood there were a multitude of
creatures which he never saw, unless
he watched for them by night. We
have seen creatures that are very un-
common roaming about by night in the
most reckless manner. A few years ago,
We were staying at q friends house in
this country, and having seen some
strange signs on the lawn, We watched
one night when the moon gave a fair
light, in order to see what night wan
derers visited us. Before long We OBJ
served two little dark objects moving
Oh the lawn, and on coming quickly up
to them, we surprised two hedgehogs,
creatures We had not seen by day any
where near the lawn. Upon following
up the trail, We found they actually
lived in some cover on the borders Of
the lawn, and within fifty yards of the
house.
At the time We saw the wild pig killed
by the leopard, there was scarcely half
IN hour during which several creatures
did not pass our post; but the greatest
excitement occurred just as day was
breaking.
Several times during the night We had
heard the sharp crack Of broken branch
in the distant forest, and now and
then a shrill sharp cry, both of which
told us elephants were not fur off. To
attempt to obtain a shot at them by
night would have been too dangerous,
and unlikely to result insuccess, as the
underwood in the bush was so dense
that even on a bright sunny day, OBJ
jects were scarcely distinguishable in
the gloom. There was a probability,
however, of these giants OF the forest
coming out into the open, and if so
We might obtain q shot at them from
our tree.
1t was not till just before sunrise that
the herd of elephants came near the
tree in which We were concealed, and
and then they seemed to scent dan
ger, for instead of coming
boldly forward they stopped and
blowing through their trunks, appear
ed to be carefully scenting the air
Whether they really smelt danger is
impossible to say, but they would not
approach nearer to the edge of the bush,
and we could not obtain q view of any
of them.
After passing q night in tree with
out firing shot, it was impossible to
resist the temptation offered by the
proximity of these elephants, so that
NJ SOOu 8S tnoro was HumClenC
daylight for to see our way, We
entered the dense forest, and en-
deavored to get shot at one of them.
We soon found that our presence was
quite well known to these crafty ami
mails, for they trumpeted and grumbled
rs We approached.
and before we expected it, a COW ele-
plant with q cali, charged through the
bush towards US. We had to retreat
with all speed, at one time the vicious
animal being scarcely ten yards from
us. A sudden dodge up small game
path, however, gave Us q fresh start,
and we widened the distance between
us,
So dense was the underwood in this
bush, and SO savage were the elephants,
that after night passed in a tree, we
felt disinclined to beard them in their
own domain. We therefore returned
to our tent, after which battle, and
breakfast, followed by an hour or two's
sleep, dispelled all the had effects of q
night in an African tree.
A. w. DRAYsoN.