Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-06-05
Gales ano Sketfhts.
Al ALGERIAN LIos STORY.

How l came TO be sitting, in very good
company, one glorious September evening,
in the little moon-lighted garden of the
hotel at Algiers is neither here nor there.
Nv companions about the round table,
which was garnishcd with slim bottles,
glasses, and piles of cigarettes, were all
Frenchmen-three old Algerian colonists,
the fourth an ex-Lieu'enant OF the Navy,
who had exchanged life on the ocean
wave for that of hunter in three-quarters
of the globe.
Before dinner / had picked up 10 the
falon Du Chailiu's goriila-book, which |
had never seen before, and my saying
something about this turned the CONVEX
sation in the garden upon wild beasts and
the hunting Of them.
: Some wonderful stories were told, espe-
cially by the ex-sailor, though not a bit
more wonderful than any one hears from
old Indian sportsmen.
For the matter OF that the most extraor-
binary sporting story | ever heard was
told by-of all men in the world-a hare
hunter, who capped herewith snake
and-elephant narrative, quite unique of
its kind.
Presently, short silence, caused by
the uncorking and tasting of new bottle
of Hermitage. was broken by The eldest of
the party. who had not said much before.
He was good-looking man of fifty. with
beard grayer than his head, and a merry
twinkle In his eye. What he said | shall
repeat for the sake of cIearness in the
first person, just as he told the story him
self.
1.-The adventure OF which am going to
tell you, gentlemen. happened to me
good many years ago. 1t was my first
serious interview with lion. Like most
serious things it had a comic side too.
a. II was a young man then. and had been
some half dozen years in Constantine
farming in partnership with friend. an
old cOlonist, whose acquaintance l had
made on board ship coming out from
Marseilles.
.'Our business was corn and cate rais-
ing, and we did very well together, until
my partner died of fever, and after that
l took dislike to the place. | thought |
would shift my ground into this province,
Algiers, push toward the frontier, and
get grant of Government land and make
. farm of it. So, getting neghbor to
give an eye to things in nav absence.
started on my prospecting expedition.
IL say I. but should say we. for there
were three of us, sworn comrades as ever
were.
First, there was your humble servant
secondly, there was my horse Marengo,
and better never looked through bride.
He was bred between Barb sire and an
English mare belonging to the Colonel of
Chasseurs of whom brought him in town
when his re giment was going home. He
stood about Is hands 2, carried the Barb
head, and the rest of his body was all
bone and muscle. His temper was as
good as his courage was high; me he
would follow about like dog, but he had
one failing. and that was an insupcrable
objection to the close proximity of any
thing. except one thing. that stood on four
legs. We all have our peculiarities, and
this was his. Bipeds were all very well,
but multiply the legs by two, and he let
fly Immediately, and never missed his
aim.
Such was MareDgo.
Thirdly there was Cognac. the faithful
lest. the most honest, the oldest. and the
wickedest little dog the world ever saw.
He was more like terrier than anything
else, with short yellow coat. fox's
head, very long ears, and a short tail.
The shrilness of his bark pierced your
ears like knife, but the awtuness of his
howl-he always howled when left alone
battles description. During the Ii
years had him. he seldom left me day or
night. On journey he would run be-
side me, and when tired get up and sit in
my wallet. The great pleasure of his
life was to steal behind. people and secret
ly bite their legs.
By some mysterious affinity, he and
Marengo were friends from the first.
They now sleep under the same tree.
Well. we started. and after going over
good deal of ground. l thought | had
decided on location, and turned my face
homeward. My direction was by Alma,
to strike the great road that runs under
the Atlas eastward into Constantine.
II was about eight O'Clock one morning,
when had been two hours in the saddle.
that emerged from narrow valley, or
ravine, through which the road run, on
sandy plain dotted with bushes and scrub.
had Just laid the reins on Marengo's
neck. when suddenly he gave a tremend
Gus shy that pitched me clean off.
The next minute, with horrible roar,
lion sprang ut his head.
made sure he was on the top of him.
and so he would have been. but. rs Ma
on his hind legs. the streaming rens caught
the brute-s forepaw. and. as it were,
tripped him. so that he fell sideways on
the road.
The heavy jerk nearly brought the
horse down. but the throat-lash broke, the
bride was pulled over his ears, and recov-
ering himself, he darted away among
grove of trees that stood by the wayside.
$50 intent was the lion on the horse, that
he paid no attention to me lying defence
less before him.
Crawling swiftly along the ground ,he
pursued Marengo. whomI gave up for lost
for his chance against the little brute
among the trees seemed hopeless.
However. as luck would have it, there
was an open space about dozen wards
across. In the centre of this Mareugo
took his stand, with his tail toward the
lion and his head turned sharply back
over his shoulder. watching him.
He stood quite still. except for the
slight shifting of his hind ieet and lifting