Sharp County record., 1878-10-31

81 was armed with a heavy English
rifle, and Zimbobo carried another of
lighter bore. l also had with me apair
of French pistols and an American
bowie-knife. | not unreasonably hoped
to bag an antelope at least, but you can
not understand ry desire until you
have lived for week on ghee and man
ioc and rice, with arrowroot boiled in
nut-oil for occasional dessert. In about
an hour we broke through this fog, and
came out on a wide prairie, dotted here
and there with stunted mimosa trees,
and growing thick in spots with panda-
ma palms. [ noticed as we went on that
the timber grew scant and that we were
travelling up a slight grade. had the
coed fortune to start herd of antelope
about noon, and brought one down.
The place where it fell was unsheltered,
and leaving Zimbobo to cut it up, |
strolled on, seeing some trees ahead
which would afford me shelter from the
sun.
Imagine my surprise when Preached
the trees to find myself upon the edge
of an almost perpendicular bluff, 80 or
40 feet high, that extended on either
hand as far as | could see. The scene
that burst on me was so unexpected and
so strange that it almost took away my
breath At the bottom of the bank or
cliff was white strand, 10 feet wide,
and beyond that lay blue and cleaning
the waters of Lake Baringo, dotted with
a million wild fowl. the sun had
dispelled the mistS of the morn
ing, and far away to the north
l saw the white peaks of the Snow
Mountains. Beckoring and shouting to
the native to follow me, | walked along
this cliff searching for a place to get
down, feeling sure that would find a
ravine worn through it somewhere. At
one place l had to skirt grove of gum
trees, that grew very thick and was
heavily interIaced with a rank creeper.
was compelled to go quarter of a
mile out of my way, and thus lost sight
of the bluff for awhile. On the other
side of the grove Zimbobo joined me,
and together we slowly approached the
ravine through the grass and under
brush. The moment stood upon the
edge of the bluff once more, and looked
down at the sand and water, | received
a surprise and sensation that were
new to me. There, not 80 feet from me,
standing in an imperial attitude upon
the beach, was magnificent lion. For
an instant admiration and aStoniShment
almost petrihed me. The beast was a
tawny male, with a jet black lock hanging
over his forehead. He had heard us ap-
preaching, and was facing US with a
calm, defiant air. At his side, frisking
and tumbling, was a whelp, utterly in
nocent of our presence. | remembered
Jules Gerard's words: If ever you
come upon his majesty from steep ele-
vation, and have a good weapon, he
will resign his scepter to you'll | look
ed up and down the bluff. He was COM
pletely at my mercy. On one side rip
gleedn en55e the waters y sa1ke on tne 0tner
him. lifted my rifle and cock
it. Then occurred a most extra
ordinary struggle in my mind. The
lion appeared to comprehend the situa-
ton. He looked steadily at me, then
turned his head toward the lake, passed
his eye slowly along the bluff, up and
down, and then with majestic air sat
down upon his launches, and renewed
his contemplation of me. For the first
time in my life felt ashamed to fire my
gun. You will say | was sentimental.
But ask you why man becomes sem
timental all at once. 1t was certainly a
new feeling to me. The beast himself
seemed to say: 4 am waiting to see if
you are such superior animal as to Kill
me or wound me when | can not defend
myself, and you can not even recover
my body Suddenly l noticed that my
companion had left me. turned and
saw him stones throw down the plain,
making the most frantic gesticulations
to me to come away. | beckoned to
him angrily to come back, but he only
redoubled his protestations and entrea-
ties. Acting on the impulse Of the mo-
ment, lifted my rifle and pointed it at
him, and then he came toward me, run
ming in a zig-zag line, like one bewitch-
ed, shouting and believing without ces-
sation. AS soon as he was near enough
| understood him to say that must not
kill the woolya-woolya, or chiefs beast
that the soul of a great warrior had
entered the lion with the black lock,
and much other superstitious nonsense.
I think this exhibition of cowardice
made me ashamed of my sentimental
ism. But l give you my word, gentle
men. l drew bead three times on that
animal, and each time some kind of
feeling made me lower the gun. Every
time that l took aim Zimbobo threw