The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-07-03
ENCOUNTER WITH A LIONEss.

Hunting Adventures in nSOuth Africa
has the following adventure:
Suddenly I observed a number Of vul'
lures seated on the plain about a quarter
of a mile ahead Of US, and close beside
them stood a huge liOness, consuming a
blesblOk which she had killed. She was
assisted in her repast by about a dozen
iackals, which were feasting along with
her in the most friendly and confidential
manner. Directing my followers atten-
ton to the spot, remarked, Il see the
liOn;" to which they replied, "Whar?
whar? Yah Almagtigl dat is he"
and instantly refining in their steeds and
wheeling about, they pressed their heels
| to their horses sides, and were preparing
to betake themselves to flight. l asked
them what they were going to do. To
which they answered, eve have not yet
placed caps on our rifles" This was
true; but while this short conversation
was passing the liOness had observed
US. Raising her full, round face, she
overhauled US for a few seconds, and
then set off at q smart Canter toward
range of mountains some miles to the
nOrthward; the whole troop Of Jackals
also started off in another direction;
there was, therefore. no time to think Of
caps. The first move was to bring her
To bav. and not q second was to be lost.
Squirting my good and lively steed, and
shouting to nv men to follow, L flew
across the plain, and, being fortunately
mounted on COlesberg, the flower Of my
stud. gained upon her at every stride.
This was TO me a joyful moment, and /
/ at once made up my mind that she or /
must die.
The Honess having had long start Of
me. we went over a considerable extent
of ground before I came up with her.
She was a large, fulI-grOwn beast, and
the bare and level nature Of the plain
added to her imposing appearance.
| Finding that I gained upon her, she re-
duced her pace from a canter to a trot
| carving her tail stuck on behind her,
and Slowed a little to one side. I shouted
| loudly to her to halt as 1 wished to
speak with her, upon which she sud-
denly pulled up, and set on her launches
like a dog. with her back toward me, not
even deigning to look round. She then
appeared to say to herself, 'DOes this
| fellow know who he is after~ Having
thus set for half a minute, as If involved
| in thought, she sprang to her feet, and,
ldClIfg dDOubg bLOOA 4OOhAAA6 eb9 4AAG III q
| few seconds, moving her tail slowly from
side to side, showing her teeth, and
growing 6ercely. She next made a
short run forward, making a loud, rum
| bling noise like thunder. This she did
| to intimidate me; but, finding that l
| did not finch an inch, nor seem to heed
| her hostile demonstrations, she quietly
stretched out her massive arms, and lay
down on the grass. My HottentOts now
coming up, we all three dismOUnted,
and, drawing our rifles from their hOl-
sters, we looked to see if the powder
was up in the nipples, and put on our
caps. While this was doing the lOnesS
sat up, and showed evident symptoms
of uneasiness. She looked first at us,
and then behind her, as if to see If the
coast was clear; after which she made a
short run toward US, uttering her deep
drawn murderOus grOwls. Having Sc
cured the three horses to one another by
their rheims. we led them on as if we in
tended to pass her, in the hope OF OBJ
tanning a brOadside. But this she care
fully avoided to expose, presenting only
her full front. I had given StOfulus my
Moore rife, with orders to shoot her II
she should spring upon me, but on no
account 10 LIC BClOAE ALlCa -AASAALDNg
was to stand ready to hand me my Pur-
dev rife, in case the two-groOved DiXOns
should not prove sufficient. My men as
vet had been steady, but they were in a
precious stew, their faces having assumed
ghastly paleness, and 1 had a painful
feeling that I could place no reliance on
them.
Now, then, for it, neck or nothing
she is within sixty yards Of us, and she
keeps advancing. We turned the horses
tails to her. I knelt on one side, and,
taking steady aim at her breast, let fly.
/ The ball cracked loudly on her tawny
hide, and crippled her in the shoulder,
upon which she charged with an appall-
ing roar, and in the twinkling Of an eye
was in the midst of us. At this moment
/ Stofolus' rifle exploded in his hand, and
| Kleinboy, whom had ordered to stand
ready by me, danced about like a duck
/ in a gale of wind. The liOness sprang
/ upon Colesberg, and fearfully lacerated
/ his ribs and launches with her horrid
teeth and claws; the worst wound was