The Bossier banner., 1888-03-08
THE LION.
At Times a Wonderful Coward,
But Not Always.

/ believe that every man who has
been in the lion country will agree with
me that he would rather meet full
grown lion under almost any circum-
stances than an English bull dog. The
lion is the king of beasts only now and
then. Now and then he is the king of
towards. A bull dog is all determine
ton. A lion schemes and calculates
and takes no chances.
While assisting in tho official survey
pf the northern portion of Cape Colony
it was an almost everyday occurrence
to- sight lion. and the adventures of
our party were numerous. if not peril
Gus. We got SO that we feared the
beasts only at night, or when we came
upon them at their meals. Almost the
first lion saw in Africa proved HIM
self an arrant coward. was left to
sci a boundary stone between districts
while the surveying party moved on.
The hunters were out after fresh meat,
the camp was two miles away. and
vas working with my back to a patch
Of tall grass with bush in the center
oft. The entire party of US had stood
there for a quarter of an hour without
seeing or suspecting any danger. but a
hon was all the while concealed in the
patch. He kept quiet until the men
were mile away, and then crept for
ward for a spring at me. heard n
movement in my rear as l worked
away. and whirling about found my
self face to face with full-grown lion.
he was crouched for a spring, and
would have been upon me in another
ten seconds.
Twas terribly scared and had no time
70 collect my wits, but l did just the
nght thing after all. 1 jumped right
al the brute with a loud yell. and he
vent bounding away like bull. Ifol-
lowed him into the patch in my excite
ment and he ran out in the open plain,
cropping his tail like a cur and evi-
aently badly ratified. l had a light
spa'e IN my hands, and as he lodged
about to get back to cover l hit him a
swinging blow over the rump. He
yelled outlike dog hit with stone.
ieii over. made dash between nv
legs' and again got into the grass.
'oiiowed close upon his heels, yelling
AZ the top OF my voice, and what did the
seaWard do but bolt. for the open with
als tail dragging in the grass. As he
ret cover flung the spade and struck
llm IN the side and staggered him. He
sfowled and showed his yellow fangs,
p..t there was no fight in him. When
Jumped at him he ran away over the
llain toward broken ground, and after
."asihs him for a quarter of a mile,
gave up and sat down. The men of
'ne party came running up, amazed
ana astonished, and even though they
aaa seen all that happened, they could
asarcely credit their sight and senses.
AaGked the courage all out of the
ueast oy wheeling on him inst at the
.sa second. BY upsetting his plan
made a coward OF him. Had bull
wy meant to attack me. my turning
va nun would not have made the slight
est difference.
ieW weeks later, while pushing my
aas down dry ravine to reach an
rlaenee on which was to display a
.ss 70 the surveyor, turned a bend at
ao' and ran square upon lion. who
~ gaawing at the bones of some old
e'lm. lie lay ON his stomach, head
8 he, and did not see him until I
-, -, almost upon him. He sprang up
s;..s a growl, made a short spring. and
1eu me by the left shoulder, and
49, moment l was down and he was
aaaing sa over me. 1t had come SO
s:a s:a1leaiy that l was dumbfounded. !
aos make q move, nor call out The