The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-30
CAPTURED BY A LION.
An Adventure With a King OF the
Indian Jungle.

Among the crowd that gathered about
the lions cage In the Geological gar
dens one fine day recently the writer
observed middle-aged gentleman hold.
ing by the hand two children Of about
eight or ten years Of age. The gentle
mans erect and soldierly bearing be-
trayed at once his calling, even had not
the Victoria cross he wore on his breast
done SO.
Was the lion you killed. grandpa, a.
big AZ this one?" asked the boy.
.'Well.to my frightened eyes. Arthur,
he seemed three times the size, but can
truthfully say he was quite as large as
this one" replied the old soldier, as the
children led him to seat near by and
implored that the story be told them
no words could dot and, Interested by
what ! had already heard, took the
liberty Of seating myself ON the Same
bench and listening 70 the rest. Tho
gentleman saw me and understood nv
desire, but only smiled benevolcntly
and went on.
"fou two have heard all about II
many times, but suppose there Is
nothing for me to do but tell 1t again.
Well, then, In 1878 / obtained a fur
Tough Of a month. which, with three
other friends, meant TO spend In a
grand hunt in the great forest that lay
within half mile Of the station where
we were camped / had been in In.
dia nearly year., and was beginning
70 get tired Of the inquiries that came
in every letter from England as to
whether had yet killed a tiger. So
now resolyed,to kill one or know the
reason why, But day after day we
went further and further into the jun
gle without meeting any big game that
we thought worth pursuing We had q
native with US named Ram Haiti, who
occasionally warned us that we were
getting into dangerous and unfre-
quented part OF the country which,
hunter as he was, he had never pene-
trated; but this was the very thing we
wanted, so pushed on, thinking we
must surely run across a tiger soon.
One day, q very hot one, that even In
the forest nearly Frustrated us, we
were camped ON the bank Of little
river Haiti called the NJ, and toward
the afternoon my friends proposed to
take swim in the stream. was feel
ing rather unwell, SO did not Join
them, but remained lying beneath the
trees and doing at intervals. Ram
Haiti went with the others, and SO
was left alone. | had dozed longer
than usual when was awakened BY
feeling something warm and damp
touch my hand, that was thrown out
beside me.
Opening my eyes, to my astonish-
tnent saw huge beast standing over
me, shutting at my clothes and limbs.
Here Is my tiger at last, ! said But
one glance at the creatures tawny
skin, and at the splendid name that
swept the ground, told me that my
visitor was not tiger, but Hon,
and magnificent male atrthat. He
was evidently trying to see If was
dead, for he kept sticking his nose in
my face In a way that / might have
found comical but for the gravity OF
the situation. ! continued to eve
him through my half-shut lids and
hoped that he would presently decide
. n wy DuN Juot llCtG ncdEQ the
voices Of my companions returning
from their bath, and one-a light
headed subaltern was singing some
camp ballad at the top Of his voice.
Inc hon paused and listened, and then,
In a sudden panic, sprang towards tho
jungle, and was congratulating nv
self on this swift and pleasant
termination OF my adventure when
the royal beast glanced back and our
eyes met
de gave q roar and then leaped to-
ward me, as il he meant ~ have me in
defiance Of the approaching enemy. /
closed my eyes at once, but 1t was too
late, and the next moment the lion had
fastened his teeth in the sleeve Of INV
GOAT and was dragging me after him
INTO the thicket. There was no use
struggling with the now frightened
brute, who would turn and rend me in
moment, 30 allowed him to carry
me whittier he would, for / did not
doubt that my friends would be on his
Tah as soon as they missed me. I
helped myself on all could. for !
iound that II lay inert the effort
me animalto drag me over the I'M.
iergrowth, thorns and fallen bouphs
would soon rake away every inch 81
ikin from on my body. So / assisted
aim III ! could in getting myself over