Wichita eagle., 1889-06-08
CARRIED OFF BY A LION.

My first voyage at sea was made when
was % years of age, as supercarso in the brig
Dedham, Of Boston, q 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, 8
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 gled-
y accepted by the skipper and myself and
that we lost no time in getting ready.
We made something of 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
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
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-
rlairder being hung on o tree at the edge OF
the camp to serve IN part for orr breakfast.
Having eaten our supper end prepared the
wagon for bed, In which we three white
men were 10 sleep, gre sat about the roaring
Sos 1fY1Cr To a
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 resonnded with their
shouts, nling7 4 with short, sharp howk; and
then the natives returned, dragging after
them the carcass of an enormous hyena, the
spear point with which 1t had been slain pro-
truding from its neck.
The brute. with q companion, having
snnelied the fresh hog meat, had been at
tempting to carry 1t of, which depreciation
tie servants had prevented by their timely
arrival
After this incident bigger fire was kept
mp, but we did not get much sleep after all,
for during half the night we had the most
hideoH serenade l eTer listened to, terrific
howls, screenings and yells filling the air as
If all the hyenas panthers and forest beasts
In the country were giving an operatic con-
cert, in which old Heckinger Joined IN
heavy, monotunous snore, that continued
without interruption, like the rising and fall
ing Of a gale OF wind at sea-
We were I'D 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 rather wild piece OF coun-
Try 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
q little glade under some trees 30 rest, two OF
the servants meanwhile building small fire
to prepare pot of coffee-
While thus engaged we heard a great con-
fusion 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 ioul honin
J We leaped to our feet, aud, as for myself,
confess 1 was half paralyzed with fear.
Old Hecklingw jumped behind tree and
thrust bis rifle forward, the skipper and
getting behind him In turn, and lepeling our
pwn pieces In tho direction whence we sup
posed the beast would coma
As fer the natives, they had disappeared as
L by magic in the bushes, and not sound
eould be heard but the suffering of the cot
bee as 1t boiled over tho pot and fell into the
Ere.
Presently old Hecklinger spoke.
''Umphi the rGscsal's not coming this way,
hats sure You can hear hons tread a
lu.g wey of, for he walks as heavy as a-man
generally. He's no dancing master"
We listened again carefully.
Not a suspicious sound reached our ears.
Then the German called to the natives, some
pf whom cresys cautiously cut Of tho bushes
@You lying wretchesi" gruwied the old
hunter savegely. Il do not believe you saw
any lion. WhsTe Yves be, and WHIST was he
6oingFa
mot twenty rods aSay, master, replied
! thin, why fellow, with a nose as big as
eoose egg and as Cat as ID was big, who was
ialled Agra. II speak the truth He was
ASeep ON rock h the SIM"
What luck n snorted Heckhngrr in rage
HYou yell and scare him awsy. may be
Come, Let Us so look"
We Immediately advanced, the old German
and Agra lsading tho way. we carried our
rifles ready Tor instant use u case OF need,
and kept iesn watch IN every quarter.
The underground was pretty dense and the
groung rough, but we GOT along well enough
until we reached an opening IN the forest
where 8 httie spring bubbled I'd II a rocky
basin, surrounded By creopers and low bushes
a r1nooun, nat rocK was on the opposite
side, and on this Agra said the lion had been
asleep
But no hon was In sight
So said the German. "hereAs where The
creature comes 10 drink Now. II we had
plenty Of time to wait, be might come back,
but
The hunter looked iuseatly across the open
ing for moment.
.'Ahi there Is beaten track yonder, and
Nsteai Hstenp
Wa could distinctly hesy.s. fssps but FeIl