Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-13

lconcladed from first psge.l
brought my column TO halt and galloped
off il, the direction from whence the single
report had come. At short distance ]
met a soldier recently arrived in Africa,
who had been detained behind his com
radcs by a very adequate and singular
cause, and who in fastening up, hoping
to arrive before the doors were closed for
the night, excused himself timidly for be-
ing late and having fired at last at trou-
blesome calf or COW. which had barred his
passage and seemed determined to Keep
him from joining his regiment. lie as
sured me be had done all he could TO get
rid of him, pushing him with the butt END
of his gun, elc. but to no purpose, ana AT
last he'd been obliged TO fire at him so close
that he had rolled instantly dead at his
feet. Suspcctng the truth, 1 treasured
the man. and as night was completely up
on us rejoined my troops and entered the
fort. On the following morning l de-
spatcbed the culprit with dozen men to
bring back the murdered animal, and let
ME decide whether a calf was to be paid
for or reward to be given to the slayer
of lion; and, as had rightly imagined,
the latter proved to be the case, and our
unconscious hero received from the gov
eminent sixty francs reward for the finest
lion killed that year.
During the summer of 1856 the general
commanding the province OF Constantine
was obliged to replace the chief OF Il
troublesome Arab tribe at the foot ct the
mountains of Kabyla, who had been Killed
by those under him, and named young
Arab of good race, much esteemed for his
intelligence and courage, and second leu
tenant in the third regiment OF spdets
As soon as he had received bis dangerous
command, kaid Hasman gathered his fam
ily about him and planted his tents in the
midst of his tribe. The great fantasia "a
sham battle where guns only charged with
powder are fred in every direction),
which always accompanies the Inaugural
ton Of a new chief, was organized accord
ing to custom, but it was plain to see that
q spirit of discomfort animated most OF the
cavaliers. for Kad was not of their own
tribe, and the Arab is of a jealous and vim
dictiye nature. Hardly had the festivities
commenced when bullets were heard to
whiz through the air, and kaid's bournous
was traversed By more than one, happily
without even grazing him,-and instantly
without the slightest sign OF motion. he
OEucEeu u ClIClC W DC tOt tlCo hihis
and addressing himself particularly to
those whom he suspected to be his deadly
enemies, he said
"You.are but awkward, clumsy women;
when man wishes to shoot his chief. he
makes sure Of his bullet and his aim. You
have missed me. and this time pardon
both your wickedness and stupidity.
know those who have tried 10 kill me. and
Ipromise them that if this little game re-
commences ! shall not miss them. Now
disband. and 60 to your tents.
Wishing to be treasured as to how my
brave kiad Hasman could maintain his
command and govern the treacherous
Arabs about him. arrived on the follow
ing day with strong escort OF sphdsts
and the Jantasie was again prepared in
my honor. This time no gun was charged
with lead, and the ceremony passed oft TO
the complete satisfaction OF all parties.
Next day returned the civility by order
ing a wild boar hunt. in which all the cav
alters took part, and had they still nour-
isbed treacherous sentiment towards
their brave chief better occasion could
not have been found for misdirecting one
of the many bullets which were fired.
But they were completely conquered; nor
had Kaid Hasman any further difficulty in
governing them.
But to return to my lion story, The day
after our famous wild boar hunt kaid and
I, followed only by about dozen cava-
liers. went off on little hunt of our own
in quite another direction. Starting about
five O'Clock in the morning We returned
about the same hour in the evening, half
dead of hunger, thirst and heat. We were
walking our horses along the dried bed OF
a river, at the head, Kaid, with but one
barrel of his gun loaded. a few yards be-
hind me, and still farther back, one of his
cavaliers. The rest Of our band had loi-
tered or dispersed. Suddenly my horse
made tremendous jump, and at the same
instant heard the crushing of branches
behind me; cry; and the sound as OF
the falling OF horse and rider; then the
report Of gun.-and, as | turned, kaid
and his horse brushed rudely by me, and
| saw behind, lying in strange, wild
heap, the cavalier, his horse, and upon
them gigantic lion, the last, quite dead.
All this must have passed as follows: The
lion had come down from the mountains
and, finding himself in the ravine just as
we passed, had patiently allowed TWO of
us to 60 on unmolested, but the third was
more than he could stand and the sound
Of approaching galloping horses probab-
ly augmenting his Impotence, he sprang
upon the horse and rider, making a nasty
tear on the cheek and shoulder Of one and
much deeper on the haunch OF the other.
Hearing the noise Kaid Hasman had
turned, and with Arab promptness had
fired his one remaining barrel, scarcely
taking aim. Fortunately the bullet had
entered the lions eye, and death had been
instantaneous. AS to the unlucky cava-
lier and horse, they were able, notwith-
standing their wounds, to return to their
tent, and in few days were quite right
again. Not long after this Kaid Hasman
killed second lion, likewise by accident.
Paris Correspondent Of The Boston al
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