Morning journal and courier., 1890-04-14

emily saw Muropo very busily engaged
eating and I called him up to hear his
adventures. And this is the tale he told rs:
"Master, you know you told me yesterday
evening that you would give any ono hve
cows who could bring you lion cub. We'll,
thought Of that all night. I said to myself,
IF can get one of the small cubs We saw
the other day, when the white man shet the
money of Kangombe, and I shall soon bs
able to make up the other half and get mar
ried to my sweetheart So this morning, at
dawn, started for that open place on tho
border Of the Ongave forest, where We saw
the lions yesterday. I soon found the foot
prints of the noness going into the forest
and coming out-those coming out were the
ing for her cubs. Then / began to follow
tho spoor which led into the bush, for
knew these tracks were likely to lead to the
place where she kept her cubs. walked
very slowly and very softly, for, you see, I
had only my swall spear with me, and no
gun, and if the noness was in the wood
wanted to see her before she saw me. At
last heard a whining noise, and, pushing
my head through the leaves and twigs, saw
in the hollow between the roots of big tree
three little cubs about three months old. As
quick as possible I had jumped over the
root and picked up one of the cubs. It was
not very frightened and didn't struggle
much, being used to be carried about by its
mother. I held it tight under my left arm
aud crept out of the forest. When was
justoutside, and STOPPING to pick thorn
out of my foot, I heard low growl, and,
looking up, saw the lioness walking slowly
towards me. My knees trembled, and felt
dead man already, but did not let 60 Of
the cub, Facing the Iioness, who had
stopped and was sitting on her launches,
lashing her tail gently from side to side, I
walked backward till I was quite clear of the
bush and out on the open plain. Then the
cub gave yelp, and the ioness suddenly got
up and commenced trotting toward me.
would run. An OVampo man can run faster
than a lion; but I had got this cub and a
spear to carry. However, picked up big
stone and threw it to the lioness. She
stopped, turned around, and smelt it. Then
put the cub on my shoulders and set off
running toward the camp at the top of my
speed. Soon heard a roar behind nae, and
| there was the lioness bounding along after
| me.
ST turned and hurled my spear at her. I
| missed; but she stopped for minute to
smell 1t. Then ran on harder than ever.
Still she came after nae faster and faster. I
jumped over sticks and pushed through
thorns and never stopped. But the Honess
never lost sight of me. At last was think
ing would throw away the lion cub to save
my life, when suddenly fell through the
grass into deep pit. It was one Of those
deep pitfalls that We dig for catching ele-
plants and rhinocercses. There was big,
sharp iron stake at the bottom, standing up.
right Fortunately fell down the side and
missed the stake, which is put there for II
elephant to fall on and be pierced by. As I
caught at the stems of the grass broke the
force of the fall and came to the bottom very
little hurt.
ST put down the lion cub and began to
consider what to do if the lioness jumped on
me, for she was already standing close to
the edge of the pit, looking down on me and
growing. had thrown away my spear, so
I had nothing to fight with. Then noticed
that iron stake, and it seemed just the thing
I wanted, SO I set to work and dug at the
the earth and was able to pull the stake up.
As soon as had got it free and out of the
ground I crouched down and held it in both
hands, pointing the sharp end toward the
lioness, who was gathering up her body for q
spring. For short, short time she kept
still, only looking at me with fierce eyes
and snarlirg. Then the cub began to yslp
again, and suddenly saw the lioness spring
| ing into the air and falling on me.
81 don't know what happened then for
| some time afterward, for great blow
| struck me and died. lost consciousness.)
"When came to life again it was after
noon. The lioness was lying close to me,
partly across my legs. She was quite dead,
with the iron stake right through her body
The cub was standing beside her, whining
and licking the dry blood. I was covered
with blood all over, painted with 1t thickly
| Just as we paint our bodies with red ochel
and mutton fat before we dance. Most of II
came from the lioness, but some had flowed
from wound on my shoulder, where she
had struck me with her claws. 1 felt very
sick, master, very sick. When tried to
| stand up everything went around and fell
| to the ground again.
"But by and by, AS the sun went down and
the evening breeze blew COOL I felt stronger
| 80 picked up the lion cub and threw him
up the side of the pit as far as could. He
| held on to the grass stems and scrambled
| out. I soon climbed out after him and
caught him. Then held him In my arms
and walked on toward the camp. g 1t was
| not far, but it took me long to get there.
was very often sick and had to stop and rest;
then the lion cub was heavy and my shoulder
hurt me. But now I have got
here and I have brought you the
lion cub, have I nota Ny friends have
bound up my shoulder. Master, have told
you all; I am very tired; let me go and
Sleep
Muropo got net only his five cows for the
lion cub, but added another five as q pres
ent on condition that Muropo celebrated his
| marri.ge before we left Ovampo land. So
| one day there was a grand festival in China
tengo's town, and after handing over the ten
| COWS to his father-in.law, Muropo, daubed
| all over with red ocher and mutton fat, and
bravely dressed in the skin of his lioness, es-
| poused ths plump and smiling Kangombe,
with many strange native rites and customs.
Then followed great orgie of dancing and
drinking. The mingled sounds of shouting,
| drum beating and the twanging of native
guitars created deafening hubbub. There
was much fessting on roast beef and drink
! ing of maize beer, and when for it was the
last evening of our stay-I went to take
| leave of Muropo found him genially drunk,
| with his arm around bis wife's neck.
CHOLLY AND THE AW-PANTHER.