Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-05-16
A STRANGE DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE,
One Man and Troop of BabOOns
Against Lion.
London Illustrated News

un0er the name OF Tne Man, the Lion,
and the Bal oons." 1t is related by a cred
liable witness, Mr.. Charles Holland Lille,
who was travelling in South Africa. The
fact that lions have been observed, on other
occasions, to be intimidated by balloons, is
mentioned in standard works of natural
history. Our correspondent writes:
I'VE were outspanned by the spring or
Mooffontain Beautiful Water in Bechua.
naland, our business being that of traders
in wool feathers and ivory. We had come
thirty miles through the veldt-a long pull
for the oxen-and we therefore determined
to rest the entire day at this grateful little
patch of verdure and water. Our camp
and equipment consisted of two large
hooded buck-wagons. with about thirty
draft oxen, thirteen Kafirs, and our two
selves-that is, Nieland, the Dutch trader,
and myself
1T wanted rather more than an hour to
sundown, when Nieland turned to me and
said, i am going to walk as far as that
kopje (hillock) J, and see if the cattle are on
the other side; the "boys" ought to be
bringing them in by now;' and away he
went. 1t was our practice, as is the gen.
eral custom of traders and travellers, to
have the cattle home and tied up to the
dissel boom Of the wagons for the night;
then, by lighting couple of fires and
leaving the dogs loose, we generally con-
sidered ourselves secure from nocturnal in.
truders, though We heard them plainly
enough, and often saw their starlike eyes
peering at US from the gloom.
The 'kopje,' as they call small hills in
Africa, was probably further away than
Nieland had imagined, for he was some
little time in reaching it, Some of the
Kafirs were squatting by me, where l
stood by the fire cooking our sup
per, and watching Nielaad, as he walked
slowly across the heated, shimmering
plain.
Arrived at the kopje he assembled it q
little, looked on either side of him, and
then made his way round to the other eide
of the hill. He had accomplished more
than half the distance, and was out of sight
of the camp, when he took another survey.
AS the kopje was broken, uneven, and
rocky, bad for walking, his eyes had been
bent on the ground. When he raised them
for more extended view he was Mortified
to find that he was being watched by an
immense Iona great, tawny brute, with
a black name and flashing eyes. The ami
NAL was little below him, standing on the
level ground.
"Nieland stood perfectly still, startled
into absolute immobility, fascinated by the
danger of his position. In those few Sec
onds, which seemed to him hours, he was
bitterly blaming himself for leaving his
gun behind, and naturally his hand had
gone to his belt, hoping to find, at least,
his revolver, but to his dismay he was
La,
knife
The lion did not advance, but stood as
if waiting for movement on the mans
part, and the man did the most natural
thing under the circumtta tances. With his
face to the foe, he slowly and cautiously
began to retreat up the hillside. What he
hoped for he was scarcely conscious OF,
except, perhaps, that he might climb
some point inaccessible to the tour-footed
beast, but it was almost hopeless work,
owing to the nature of the ground and his
constrained position.
He had not made any great progress
when he heard confused grunting and
jabbering away behind him. Half turning
his head he glanced quickly around and
saw troop OF balloons, Along with the
mans movements the lion advanced Here
the man was between two fiIes-the lion
in front and the haboons behind-iormid-
able creatures these, as he knew them to
be, possessing enormous strength and hav
ing the characters of mOrOse and ungovern
able tempers.
THE jabberipg increased, interspered
with shIill 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 stopped his slow ascent, but now he
stationary in crouching attitude,
and drew the knife from his belt.
THE balloons came leaping and running
on all fours, down the sides of the stony
iopje, a. d soon they were around NielaDd
in kind OF Irregular circle. There they
stayed in knots of three and four and
raised the most unearthly din-barking,
and heating their breasts
q tumult as the man had never heard be- |
FORE
"The lion had stopped; he had done
more, he even retreated Q little way; and
then, putting his nose close to the ground,
he uttered q sharp, short, angry roar.
Thank heaven thought Nieland, they
viii hear that at the camp, and will re-
member that am awayv
"The baboons, great. powerful, hairy fell
lows, now redoubled their hideous noises,
jumping about their allotted stations in
the greatest excitement. It really ap-
peared as if, with bristling eyebrows, and
angry, distending mouths, they were max
ing the most scornful allusions to the king |
of beasts before them.
"The lion STOOD there, angry, baffled, and |
lashing the gronnd with his tail; |
then he began to run. in quick strides back |
ward and forward. Every time he put his |
head down the noise of the balloons in |
creased. When he stood still and throw
ing his head back, gazed at them, their ex-
CARNATIONS died away; but they became, if |
possible, more alert and watchful than |
ever.
THE balloons seemed to gather closer to.
gether, still keeping Nieland in the middle |
Of the circle they had formed round him.
The lion retreated again and roared, and |
some of the foremost balloons descended |
with doubled noises to the lower ground,
while others filled their places.
1.-THE lion backed still further away, till |
be reached respectable distance. here he |
the ground, and sent forth q mighty roar,
that reverberated along the echoing |
ground After this, turning for the last |
time, he trotted of, to the heartfelt relief of |
Nieland, who was imprisoned now no Ion
gur, for, as the mighty beast disappeared,
the balloons broke up their prospective cir
Gle, ranged themselves in groups and ex-
tended line and commenced digging for |
the roots and earthnuts, an occupation that |
they had probably been engaged upon