The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-06
CAPTURED By A LION.
An Adventure With King of the
Indian Jungle

Indian Jungle.
Among the crowd that gathered about
the Lions cage in the Geological gar
dens ono iine day recently the writer
observed amiddle-aged gentleman hold
ing by the hand two children Of about
eight or ten years Of age. The gentle
mans erect and soldieriy 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, as
big MS this one21 asked the boy.
We'll, to my frightened eyes, Arthur,
he seemed three times the size, but / can
truthfuIly say he was quite rs large as
this one, replied the old soldier, as the
children led him to d seat near by and
implored that the story be told them
where the big lion could illustrate it as
no words could do; and, interested by
what had already heard, took the
liberty Of seating myself on the same
bench and listening to the rest. The
gentleman saw me and understood my
desire, but only smiled benevolently
and went on.
''You two have heard all about 1t
many times, but suppose there is
nothing for me to do but tell it again.
Well, then, in 1875 obtained fur
Tough OF month, which, with three
other friends, ! meant 70 spend in
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 tiger. So
now resolved to kin 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 a
native with-us named Ram Haiti, who
occasionally warned us that we were
getting into 4 dangerous and unfre-
quented part Of the country which,
hunter as he was, he had never pene-
tratvd; but this was the very thing we
wanted, SO pushed on, thinking we
must surely run across a tiger soon.
One day, a very hot one, that even In
the forest nearly FRUSTRATED us, we
were cainped on the bank of little
river I1aticalled the Nh, and toward
The afternoon my friends proposed to
take q 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.
ment saw huge beast standing over
me, SMILING 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 tina,
swept tile ground, told me that my
visitor was not tiger, but Lion,
and q magnificent male at that. He
was evidently trying to see If j was
dead, for he kept sticking his nose in
my face in a way that / might have
found comieal but for the gravity d
the situation / continued TO eye
him through my half-shut lids, and
hoped that he would presently decide
TO 30 away. But just here ! heard the
voices Of my companions returning
from their bath, and ohe--a light
headed subaltern was singing some
camp ballad II the top Of his voice
The lion paused and listened, and then,
n q sudden panic, sprang towards the
Jungle and was congratulating my,
self on this swift and pleasant
termination q my adventure wher
the royal beast glanced back ana oui
eyes met
He gave roar aud then leaped to
ward me, as if he meant 60 have me II
defiance OF the approaching enemy.
closed my eyes atSonee, but ii was toe
late, and the next moment the lion hac
fastened his teeth in the sleeve Of my
scat apd was dragging me after him
into the thiclxet. There was no u.s.
struggling with the now frightened
brute, who would turn and rend me il
moment, So ] allowed him Is carr,
me whittier he would, for / did no
aoubt that my friends would be on Iii.
trail as soon as they missed me.
helped myself on all | could, for
found that II lay inert the. effort
y the animalto drag me over the IN
dergTowth, thorns and fallen bongh,
would soon rake away every inch d
skin from OF my body. 50 assisted
aim al could in getting myself Owe