Nevada County picayune., 1888-04-11
A HUNTING ADVENTURE,
Curious Experience witn a Lion
 by Party of Hunters.
The imitation of an East India Trick, Which Did Not Terminate as Gxpec-
 ted-A Pair of Eepant Tusks.

miles across the Zambcse, in Africa and ten miles from q dam of water called Spitz dam, we had strange ! and singular adventure with lion. It was in this way: One of the horses had broken loose during the night and Tom and couple of other Ka- frs had gone out early to capture the animal. The spoor of the horse led toward the dam. When they ar rived there what should the see but the nearl Y eaten carcass of the anl- maj, undoubtedly lions and wolves. The horse had strayed there for wa ter and been attacked by the brutes. Of course, all the boys could do was to return to camp and report.
 The party in camp was Burns, Swartz and l, with about twenty five kafirs. Swartz. was awfullv mad when Tom told him about the horse being eaten, and he at once sent eighteen of the boys out to dig pit such as we call in Africa lion trap. At dusk the hunters secreted them- selves in trees, behind heaps of ston- es of anything to be safe from the wild brutcs. Before secrcting themselves a small animal, not too heavy to break the reeds, is placed on the reeds in the center (this bok or other animal is generally shot du- ing the day for that purpose
 At about an hour before dusk Swartz and l set out for the dam. After all were ready we all got be- hind . crantz of large rocks, which the Katirs, under Toms direction, had built during the day. We were located about one hundred yards from the pit on bit of rise, so that we looked down on all that was going on.
 We sat talking for couple of hours, when began feeling sleepy, and Swartz said he would keep watch for few hours if nothing happened. had been asleep about three hours when was awaken by a hand laid on me. was about to jump up. but Swartz almost knocked me down and told me to keep quiet. Then I remembered where l was. l crept slowly to the side of the rocks and looked through (we had left places between the rocks to see through), and what was my surprise to see a number of elephants drink ing and sqirting water about in all directions. should say there must have been a dozen, small and large ones. One large bull, which stood nearest to us, had q pair of tusks worth a good deal of fighting for, and Swartz whispered to me that he would have that fellow's tuskS before tomorrow evening if he had to bust for it.
 All at once we heard a roaring Tn the distence, but we did not have to think second time what the roar came from. The roar came nearer and nearer. and we could tell there was more than one lion. All at once Tom. who was lying by me, nudged me in the side and pointed to d ridge by the dam. Looking there we saw lion creeping along toward the water ;then came another and an
 
 other until five were in the water drinking together. They were about fifty feet from the trap.
 After they had quinched then thirst they began to roar in the mos' terrible manner. and two or the males began to fight as they general ly do when together. They fought for about ten minutes, when one which seemed to get the worst or It crept off to distance. while 'h' others seperated and prowled aho"' nm. of the males with a female turn ed toward the pit, but stopped agal' too driuk. They stayed there play mo in the water for about hall al hour when they walked nearer tn tram was very excited at tn lime. had set several traps Defor' h,t mover had an animal so near q
 ,hos. lions were, All at once th
 n.le crouched down to the grouh'
 os if too spring, and before yo'
 could say Jack Roberson ne ''''''