The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09

three fuil-Grown males tumDled INTO our
pit. This fact did not prevent Others
from picking the carcass clean. One of
the captives was the cheeky old fellow
who had entered our camp, and the
other two wcr: fully as large. In the
course OF the forenoon we had them out
and in the cages, and two of them are in
the United States to-day in geological
gardens.
There are plenty of instances where
men have been seized by lions and lived
to relate the particulars, though no two
agree Us to sensations. A week subsc-
ouent to our capture of the three lions
l had been out with some of the natives
to prepare bait in rocky ravine. We
had built stout pen of rocks and logs
and placed calf as bait. The sun
was nearly down as we started for camp,
and no one had the least suspicion of the
presence of danger until lion, which
had been crouching beside bush,
sprang out and knocked me down. In
springing upon his prey the lion or the
tiger strikes as he seize5. This blow OF
the paw, if 1t falls on the right spot,
| disables the victim at once. | was so
near this fellow that he simply reared up,
seized me by the shoulder and pulled me
down, and was fat on the earth before
I realized what had happened. I was on
nv back, and he stood with both paws
on my middle, facing the natives and
growing savagely. The men ran off
about 300 feet and then halted, which
was doubtless the reason why was not
carried off at once. 1 can say without
conceit that 1 was fairly cool. 1t had
come so suddenly that had not had time
to get ratified. had been told by an
old Boer hunter, if 1 ever found myself
in this fix, to appeal to the lions fears.
Had Imoved my arm to get my pistol,
the beast would have lowered his head
and seized my throat. So long as l lay
Quiet he would reason that was dead,
and give his attention to the natives.
All of a sudden l barked out like a dog,
followed by a growl, and that beast
jumped twenty feet in mis- surprise. lie
came down between me and the natives,
and turned enough to see that his tail
was down and that he was
scared. I uttered further barks and
growls, but without moving hand, and,
after making q circle clear around me,
the lion suddenly bolted and went off
with a scare which would last him a
week. If you had picked up a stick
and discovered it to be snake you
would do as the lion did. He supposed
he had pulled down a man. The man
turned into a dog. 1t appealed to his
fears.
After the lion had gone I grew so
weak that had to be carried to camp.
He had inflicted pretty bad bite on my
shoulder, and it was fortnight before l
could hold my gun for an otf-hand shot.
had the presence OF fourth captive
during this time to console me, how
ever. No animal went near the calf the
first or the second night, but on the
third we captured a fine half-grown
male, and got him Gagged without trouble.
Curiously enough, he had offered the
calf no violence, being overcome by the
situation, aud when we found him the
two seemed on the best of terms.
About four months later, on the
Orange River, I had close call for my
life, with no one at hand to aid me by
distractiug the attention of the ZION. I
had only one white rran with Inc, and he
was i'll of fever. We had dug pit on
path frequeuted by lions coming down
to drink, but were much annoyed by
other animals falling into it. On the
first night we caught two hyenas; on
the second a panther; on the third a
wild hog. These would have been prizes
had we not been after lions and lions
alone. On the fourth night stationed
a couple of natives in tree near the
path to frighten off all game but lions.
They were hunters, and knew the walk
of lion from that of any other beast.
When going down to drink the lion
generally snuffs the air, probably to see
What game is abroad. On q rough path
his tread is as heavy rs mans, and no
one who has hunted him need be afraid
of making mistake. On this night,
after the native, had driven several use
less animals away a large lion and
lioness came down the path. When
first discovered the lion was ahead, but
he got the scent of the men in the tree
and stopped short to growl and sniff,
while the lioness, who was, perhaps,
very thirsty, advanced slowly and went
into the pit.
The nit was two miles from our camp,
and we heard nothing of the row which
took place when the lion discovered the
trek played on his mate He tore around
for spell like mad, and then lay down
at the foot of the tree and besieged the
men. AS soon as it was daylight, left
camp on horseback to ride over and see
what luck. I rode straight for the
place, and, when within forty rods.
called to the men. They answered at
once, and though could not make out
what they said, I knew that they were
excited over something. l was riding
around clump of trees on to an open
space, when my horse suddenly started.
Next instant I was on the ground and q
lion standing over me, and l could hear
the horse tearing away through the scrub
like mad. The lion had pulld me down,
nearly tearing the back out of my coat,
vest, and shirt, but not drawing blood
with his claws.
As in the previous case, was not
frightened. because it had occurred so
suddenly that l had not time to loose
nv nerve. was on my left side, bare
headed, and the lion stood for moment
with his right paw on my shoulder,
looking after the horse. The natives
saw the fleeing horse, knew very we'll
what had happened to me, and at once
descended the tree and made for camp.
I did not blame them any, and perhaps
that very action saved my life. had
-. ~ oo1Iact NV thouo ohtI in that