The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-27
A DOUBLE DANGER.

will not prove uninteresting, I know,
consequently will copy a few pages
from my diary in relation to my adven
lures in Africa, where l spent consid-
cradle time, nearly a score of years
ago, hunting the wild and ferocious
monsters OF the forest and jungles.
good friends, will at once proceed
with my narrative.
- had been out on hunt for several
months, and had had a number of thrill
ing adventures-far more exciting than
really pleasant.
This season was accompanied by 4
friend named Morris Kelly, and, as u.s.
;lal, several sooty-faced natives. The
latter were not much to be depended
= on, however, in a moment Of trouble
or danger. In fact, they were rather
cowardly, and almost always ready to
run, if the chance for flight was any,
ways good. On several occasions they
had left Kelly and me to face the mu-
sic, wholly alone and unaided.
Well, early one morning, before we
had made start, and while the nat
ives were preparing breakfast, Kelly
declared his intention Of going out a
little to look around. No sooner said
than done, and out he went. leaving
me to smoke my pipe and enjoy my
leisure.
"You stay here,'' said he to me,
"and see that the breakfast is properly
> prepared by the time 1 get back, which
won't be long, assure you, for I'm
mighty hungry myself. I'll just take
a squint around here, and see if there
is any game stirring, though there's
never much lack Of that, take it, in
this section Of the wor]d.'
"Well, hurry back,'' l replied
breakfast is almost ready now, and
we'll make an early start. Besides /
wouldn't venture far away alone.''
Kelly said he should run no risk, and
would be back in good season. In
fact, he added, he should not go out of
the sound of my voice. With these
words my companion started off, and
in few minutes disappeared from my
sight.
Fifteen minutes afterwards l was
startled by the crack of a rifle, not
very far off, either. Leaping to my
feet, l excitedly cried out
"There! Kelly's into it already,
some how
Bidding the natives follow me, l
seized my rifle and darted off in the d.
rection of the sound. The darkies
obeyed my hurried behest, but man.
aged to lag a good ways behind, as
usual. Quietly-for enjoyed silence
we hurried along.
At length we began to mount the side
Of a huge hill that lay before us. Up,
up, up, cautiously crawling on our
hands and knees, for there the crack
of rifle was almost always warning
of danger, and the hunter made his
calculations accordingly.
At length reached the top, where
found a level plateau of several acres.
The spot was almost barren, and the
tropical sun poured down with a
scorching power. However, could
see but one thing, then, with any dis
tinctness, and the sight Of that fairly
curdled the blood in my veins.
In the centre of the plateau appeared
the form Of lion, and the mighty
monster was ripping and rending the
body of poor Kelly into a hundred
pieces.
think the animal came suddenly
upon my companion, who fired his
weapon but missed his aim, and before
he could reload-hiding-place there
Was none, not even the trunk Of tree
the terrible animal bore him down.
Such things often happened, and to
the best Of hunters, as may we'll be
supposed.
On the edge of the plateau l sudden
ly halted, riveted to the spot by what
saw. Before I fully recovered my
senses, my natives reached my side,
and just as they arrived at the top Of
the hill, and took in a realizing sense
Of what was before them, the lion
raised his head and uttered roar that
seemed to shake the very air. Quick
as lightning they took to their heels,
and tore back down the hill, leaving
me alone to do the best L could.
All this--the appearance of the ma
tives at the brow of the hill, the roar
of the lion, and the flight of the
blackeys-occurred almost simulta
neously; and the next moment, quick
as a flash, the roaring monster sprang
away from the CORY carcass of poor
Kelly, and darted at me, with a single
bound clearing half the distance, and
the moment he struck the ground,
f1ercely bounding forward again. AS
the lion left the ground a second time,
I sank down below the brow of the
hill, dropped upon my knees, pointed
my rifle upward, and fired away at the
monster while he was flying through
the air, almost directly over me. The
ball struck him, but not fatally, and
the next moment the animal landed a
few feet beyond me. on the side of