Nevada County picayune., 1889-08-07

him. Half turning his head he glanced quickly around and saw a troop of balloons. Along with the mans movements the lion advanced. Here the man was between two fires, the lion in front and the balloons behind formidable creatures these, as he knew them to be, possessing enormous strength and having the characters of morose and ungoverna- ble temper.
 "'The jabbcring increased. inter- spersed with shrill cries of rage; and presently Nieland was aware that the balloons were leaving the heights above and descending to where he was. Up to this moment he had not stopped his slow ascent, but now he remained stationary, in crouchlng attitude. and drew the knife from his belt.
 The baboons came leaping and running, on all-fours, down the sides of the stony kopje, and now they were around Nieland in a kind of irregular circle. There they stayed, in knots of three and four, and raised the most unearthly din-barlling, screaming, shouting and beating l their breasts-such q tumult as the man had never heard before.
 "The lion had stopped; he had done more. he had even retreated a little way; and then, putting his nose close to the ground, he uttered a short, sharp, angry roar. Thank Heaven,' thought Nieland, they will hear that at the camp, and will re- member that am away'
 The balloons, great, powerful, hairy fellows, now redOubled their hideous noises, jumping about their allotted stations in the greatest eX- ctement. It really appeared as if, with bristiing eyebrows and angry distending mouths, they were making the most scornfu allusions to the king of beasts before them.
 ,.1NL, a+A thnro haf- fled and perpleXed, flashing the ground with his tail; then he began to run, in quick strides backward and forward. Every time he put his 1 head down the noise of the babOons increased. When he stood still, and throwing his head back, gazed at them, their eXclamations died away but they became, if possible, more l alert and watchful than ever,
 The baboons seemed to gather closer together, still keeping Nie- land in the middle of the circle they had formed round him. The lion re- treated again, and roared; and some of the foremost balloons descended with redoubled noises, to the lower ground, while others filled their places.
 The lion backed still further away. till he had reached respecta- ble distance: here he staid, and, looking round, put his nose to the ground, and sent forth mighty roar that reverberated along the echoing ground. After this, turning for the last time, he trotted off, to the heartfelt relief of Nieland, who was imprisoned now no longer, for as the mighty beast disappeared, the balloons broke up their protective circle, ranged themselves in groups and extended line and commenced digging for the roots and earth-nuts, an occupation that they had probably been engaged upon before the Dutch man appeared upon the scene.
 ''Nieland clambered round the hillside to the spot he had originally left, from winch he could not only see the camp, but also that we were already coming in search of him.
 '"rhc oxen came in half an hour after you started,' said l, from the opposite direction; then l heard what sounded like roaring. After that here paused, for l could see through the sunburn on his skin, that he was ghastly white. Luckily, Amatonga, one of the katlir boys, was carrying canteen newly filled ; so l gave Nieland long, refreshing draueht of water. "God be praised '" exclaimed the Dutchman, and pressed my hand 'l'll tell yon mtcr
 .'Wc hurried back into camp, for the short African twilight was fast , deepening into night. Round the , camn-lirp that evening Nieland told