Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-03-09

"a H8. sSA - iNi eGdlltI-
ing as we went. I made for bush.
whence hoped 70 secure better obser-
vation, and, as turned il, being on nv
hands and knees, came face TO face
with big lion who was skulking in the
hollow. | was within four feet OF his
head wh,n discovered HIN His ewes
were open very wide, and bis breath
came to me with sickening odor. but he
ne.ther growled nor mo ed for a long
minute. We looked into Zach others
eyes. and | was so overcome iha,
was like one raralyzed for the
time At that short distance his
eyes had the brightness Of electric
/ lights Indeed, they seemed to burn
-niAe, and the feeling did not leave me
for four or five days
Alter minute or so the lion uttered
low growl, and sat up for better look
at nc. | was on my knees, and he
snutfcd at me and uncovered his great
teeth. Perhaps another might have
; III ttl liiIl, dS HIS u = ucdl duu Cl est
offered a target like a barn door, and
had my gun all ready, but hadn't the
/ power to raise my arms. He growled
again and then turned around and
/ sneaked OF through be bushes and got
away. When my companions came up
/ was too weak TO walk to my horse. and
on reaching camp had to 60 to bed.
It was while referring to this adventure
some time later that native related his
queer experience with a lion He was
returning to his village one afternoon
when a snake BIT him He was obliged
to stop and find certain roots, and make
a poultlce, and thus got belated. As he
| hurried on in the twlight,a lion sud
denly leaped into the path before him
and barred his further progress. Had
the man turned TO tlte he would have
been struck down. He stood there,
gasping with fright and ready to COL
lapse, when It suddenly flashed upon him
that the lion appeared in playful mood.
l he beast Law down anu rolled over,
paved at the earth, and when the native
advanced step it became certain that the
lion was in for lark.
"Whle | was frightened almost t
DEATH said the man, II had sense
enough to humor him. Jumped at him
and he 'risked and bounded like ,
pupps Then l retreated, and he raj
after me. 1t was two miles to the village
and we kept up the play until within
few rods OF the first hut had my hant
on him twenty times, and when entered
the village had some of the hair, of hi
name to prove the particulars of my ad
venture
While the tiger has more natura
ferocltP than the lion, lie ls not to b
dreaded as much when enreged. /
charging among the heaters the tiger
? generally satisfied with knocking a s'ngl
a person down. and after this feat ! ew
} invariably make a bolt The lion, o
I the contrary, if once aroused TO fight fo
his life, means to d { light there, afte
e doing all the harm he can.
q We were in the Natalie | end, Afrlc
e "a Government eNped ton consIstln
, Of upward Of 2G3 men and had got
into camp two hours before sundow
one day at pool when one of the whit
men fred at Ion who was making of
The king of beasts had been "snooxing
in the shade Of some bushe, in the opc
plain and had remained quiet in hope
> we would pass. When he say us 60 int
/, camp he made q sneak for the forest.
quarter Of a mile away, and had almo
reached it when the shot was fired IEe'
: was no hope Of h ting him, but more /
; acc dent than intention the ball struc
= the ,ar4et. The lion was wounded
the ham Wesav him turn and bite
the wound, and were lau hing at Il
ant cs when he su ldenly headed for Il
amp Although he was a big fellow
= his manc stood VI until il seemed as
he was the size Of two year old stee
y His leaps We something tremendou
All hcroa;e,l at exc Y spring
Fe Al least twenty shots were fred al I
[: ion as he charged, aud some Of I
Re bul cts flung dirt into his face, but
s' might as well have tr ed 70 sop hur
A eI a