Sharp County record., 1878-10-31

roar, half growl and half yell, but full
of vengeance, he gave me fiery look
and bounded off down the shore.
"We hadno breech- leaders, and while
was putting fresh bullets into the
pieces, Zimbobo was on his knees beg
ging me to come away, and assuring me
that woolya-woolya would come again
two meaning that he would be Joined
by his mate, and together they would
avenge the death of their offspring. |
laughed at the fellow, and told him we
would take back two skins then instead
of one. But | did not linger. On the
whole, was promised little more lion
hunting than had bargained for, and |
was anxious to get back to our compan-
ions before nightfall.
"Twice, as we were crossing the prai-
rie, Zimbobo clutched me suddenly, and
bade me listen. Then | heard in the
distance that unmistakable roar. 1t was
new sensation to feel that relentless
beast was hunting for me. 1t did not
increase my comfort to be told by the
native that the lions cry of vengeance
was utterly unlike its other sounds of
passion; that it was no unusual thing
for the male to be left in charge of a
whelp, and that it never forgave an in
| Jury to its charge. We reached the tent
/ Just at dusk, and | ate a very hearty
supper of antelope. Whether it was the
meal or the lingering results of my sick
ness, do not know, but the strange
roar of that beast was in my ears all
night. Fancy my surprise the next
morning when the natives reported that
the tracks of two lions were visible all
around the tent. We Joined our party
day later, and went down to Eboi,
where there was a missionary station.
The village is amere collection OF kraals,
with the exception of one two-stOry
frame and adobe house, erected by a
Dutchman year or two before, as an
ivory depot and trading post. A party
of Baloch soldiers had cut him to pieces
one day, and the place fell into the
hands of shrewd French priest. As
our party had to remain at Eboi two or
three days, Barbiere and |, now that our
quarrel was made up, were furnished
the luxury of bed in this frame house,
on the second floor. The first night
that | slept there woke suddenly out Of
sound sleep in strange terror. | had
heard that ominous growl again, and it
seemed perilously near.
"a full moon was shining Just such
night as this-hot as Tophet and
bright as day. The Lieutenant, who
was sleeping with me, was snoring un-
consciously. | got up, went to the open
window, and started as if struck. There,
sitting on his launches, on the bit OF
lawn under the window, was my lion,
looking up at my window, his tail writh-
ing in the grass, and his black lock
bristling. l even saw, in that one
glance, the scar over his eye that my
bullet had made. 1t was the work of an
.usUanU W srr1,4 my rlue anu nre az nim. !
The report brought Barbiere to his feet,
and alarmed the whole house. Every
body turned out-but not a trace of the
beast could be found. The Balochs
hunted all through the timber without
success. They only found his tracks.
What was extraordinary, there were
three or four mules and two milch-cows
in the kraal, and one of the former was
loose, and had not been disturbed.
"Well, week later we reached
Usambala, pretty well used up, and then
| heard that we had been followed all
the way by a lion. Now l leave it to
you whether such circumstance will
not work in a mans mind, especially on
the mind of a man who expects to
spend a good deal of his time in Central
Africa. Once after that | heard the
sound Of my pursuer's voice. 1t was the
night we left USambala. The Lieuten-
ant was with me, and heard it also. |
wish | could describe the sound to you.
| had heard lions roar before, but this
was entirely unlike the usual sound. In
fact it was indescribable."
At that moment deep moan sounded
through the room, making the glasses
tremble. 1t rose to a growl, and ended
with sound not unlike the baying of
mastiff.
"What's that?" EXCLAIMED Stark,
getting up.
cts probably big dog in the
neighborhood," l said.
He was very pale. Gentlemen"
said he, "that's the sound | have been
trying to describe to you. That's my
lion!n
felt something like a shudder run
through me. But my friend laughed at
the absurdity of the idea.
Then there came roar-unmistaka-
bly, that of wild beast-and we all |
three sprang to the window. I believe
| was ahead, for l found myself upon
the veranda. The sight that met all
our eyes simultaneously was enough to