San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-27
CARRIED OFF BY A LION.

My first voyage at sea was made when l
was % years of age, as supercargo in the brig
Dedham, of Boston, a stanch vessel of about
$50 tons, engaged in the South African trade.
Having completed our outward voyage to
the cape, we started on our return, and an
chored off the mouth of the Orange river,
where there was trading post, in hopes OF
adding to our stock of ivory and gold dust.
We spent some time here waiting for the
arrival of quantity of ivory nuts, expected
from up the coast, and to help us put in the
time the chief trader at the settlement, a
German named Hecklinger, who had lived in
the country for fifteen years, proposed two
or three days hunt up the valley.
1t is needless to say that this offer was glad
" accepted by the skipper and myself and
that we lost no time in getting ready.
We made something Of a display as we
started on our expedition, for we had big
covered wagon drawn by six oxen, three sad
die horses and nearly twenty natives armed
with spears and knives, to say nothing of a
half dozen dogs, ours of high and low degree.
After pushing up the valley for twenty
miles we halted for the night, expecting to
begin our hunt the next day, as Hecklinger
said we were in a good locality for many
kinds of game.
Indeed, before we had unyoked the oxen
one of the men shot wild hog, juicy pieces
of which were roasted for our supper, the re-
mainder being hung on tree at the edge OF
the camp to serve in part for our breakfast.
Having eaten our supper and prepared the
wagon for a bed, in which we three white
men were to sleep, we sat about the roaring
camp fire for a long time, listening to the
Germans conversation, which was very in
teresting, for he was a good talker, and had
met with many curious adventures
Just as we were ready to turn in, there
were suspicious sounds near the edge of the
camp, and two of the servants catching up
their spears, moved in that direction.
Presently the air resounded with their
shouts, mingled with Short sharp howls; and
then the natives returned, dragging after
them the carcass of an enormous hyena, the
spear point with which it had been slain pro
truding from its neck.
The brute, with a companion, having
smelled the fresh hog meat, had been at
tempting to carry it off, which depreciation
the servants had prevented by their timely
arrival
After this incident bigger fire was kept
up, but we did not get much sleep after all,
for during half the night we had the most
hideous serenade ever listened to, terrific
bowls, screenings and yells filling the air as
if all the hyenaS, panthers and forest beasts
in the country were giving an operate CON
cert, in which old Hecklinger joined in a
heavy, monotonous snore, that continued
without interruption, like the rising and fall
ing of gale of wind at sea.
We were up betimes and got an early
breakfast, and prepared for the days sport
Part of the servants were left in camp to
look after things, and the rest of us set out
on foot through a rather wild piece of coun-
Cry toward the north
We had considerable sport, and by 10
o'clock had shot large panther, two hyenas
and quantity of smaller game.
Then, feeling bit tired, we sat down in
little glade under some trees to rest, two of
| the servants meanwhile building q small fire
to prepare pot of coffee.
While thus engaged we heard great con-
| fusion a little way beyond US, in which direc-
ton some Of the natives had wandered, and
the next instant they came running back at
full speed, filling the air with cries of excite
ment End shouting at the top of their lungs:
"A lion! hon!"
! We leaped to our feet, and, as for myself, ]
confess was half paralyzed with fear.
Old -Iecklinger jumped behind a tree and
thrust his rife forward, the skipper and
getting behind him in turn, and leveling our
own pieces in the direction whence we sup
posed the beast would come
As for the natives, they had disappeared as
If by magic in the bushes, and not sound
could be heard but the suffering of the cot,
fee as it boiled over the pot and fell into the
| fire.
Presently old Hecklinger spoke.
"Umphl the rascal's not coming this way
that's sure. You can hear lions tread @
long way of, for he walks as heavy as a man
generally He's no dancing master"
We listened again carefully.
Not suspicious sound reached our ears
Then the German called to the natives, some
Of whom crept cautiously out Of the bushes.
You lying wretchesl" growled the old
hunter s-TaEelY. Il do not believe you saw
To be Continued.