Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-22

around we saw Matu sitting on the ground |
by his countryman, who was lying on a
lionskin, alive and conscious, though APP
parently seriously hurt. In response to our
anxious inquiries he replied:
me not dead yet. Be all right bime-
BY"
The party had been, we learned, As hours
In this accidentally found refuge-a tree
less slope evidently overlooked in times Of
high water-and had lived entirely upon
birds killed by Matu, whose old musket,
however contemplate for ball, was admira-
bly, adapted to throwing shot.
As cannot do Harold Beeton Justice
by repeating his modest version of the sto-
nv, will give it's substance, as gathered
pieeemeal from the two Wagindos, in my
| own words:
1t seems that, having enjoyed lots of
sport coming up the river, they had pur-
posely prolonged their stay. Early on the
morning of the 18th they had just run
their boats bow ashore at the sandy cove
when an old rogue hippopotamus sud
denly rose from the deep water astern.
Matu foolishly fired a charge of shot at the
beast, which, enraged, rushed on them and
crushed the boats stern between his jaws.
Then, striking bottom, he was following
the party ashore when Harold, jumping
TO one side, in the shadows, killed him by
q single bullet under the ear.
With some difficulty they stranded the
carcass, then took everything out of the
boat and turned it adrift, intending to re-
main on the open, bush bounded sandtield
until help should come. Beeton and Matu
began to prepare camp, while Kola, with
shouldered musket walked proudly to and
fro sentry fashion. On one of his beats he
had approached the forests edge and was
standing still, facing it, when lion sprang
from behind a bush, struck the gun fear
full blow and knocked the man senseless.
Before the others could catch up their arms
the beast had seized his victim by the
shoulder and disappeared.
Matu confessed that he had done his ut
most to dissuade his young master from
following the lion, thinking the thing an
utterly useless risk but Harold persisted,
declaring that he'd try to recover and bury
the mans body at all hazards, or, If he
still lived, rescue him. So, hastily scrib-
bling the note found by us, he started at
once, compelling the reluctant native to
go along
Striking into the forest at the spot
whence the lion had emerged, they quickly
Of the beast, who did not bother himself
about them at all as he logged along at
dog trot. Harold took the lead; but,
though never more than 30 yards behind
the lion, he dared not shoot for fear Of hit
ting Kola.
Expecting every moment to see the mon
ster drop his burden and turn to attack
him, the boy kept right on, hoping thus
to gain favorable shot But the fearless
or perhaps disdainful brute never relaxed
his hold, never even looked around, and
beyond occasionally uttering q murmur-
ing growl seemed actually Indifferent to
his pursuer's presence.
When the creature finally entered the
Jungle copse, Harold was within 90 yards
of him and dashed into the cover without
O moments hesitation, disregarding the
warning cry of Matu, who, in deadly ter
TOR ingloriously climbed tree, whence
he overlooked all that next occurred. He
saw, he said the lion drag his prey through
the low entrance of his den, drop 1t inside
and then at once start out again as If at
last determined to chastise the impudent
hunter But as he was coming out of the
narrow passageway Harold, who was hur-
riedly unstrapping the blanket roll from
his back, preparatory to entering and was
standing at one side of the hole, sent a
, bullet through his head, and he fell stone
dead without so much as kickl
"Brayest white man ever WASH said
Matu on reaching this point Then
slid down tree and skinned lion, but Mas
= ter Beeton he pulled Kola out of den, pour
ed water in him s mouth and tied up him.
shoulder good, same as doctor man."
Kola's wounds were q broken collar bone
and badly lacerated shoulder, deep into
which the lions fang5 had sunk while
dragging his heavy body along He soon
revived, 1t seems, and than the party left
: the den, Harold tenderly supporting the
; injured man and Matu carrying the two
: guns and the pelt. On attempting, how
ever, to regain the point at which they had
entered the plateau they became complete
, ly turned rolGd," as lost
men will, and after Wandering about fol
. several hours they struck at venture into
> the forest, coming by good fortune, tC
the creek, which they reached by penetrat
:, ing q much narrower belt of timber thar
, that through which we had forced our way
By this time Kola had become too veal
d to proceed, and Harold decided to remain
s by the water until he should get stronger
d When we found them, both of the un
wounded men were nearly worn out by
u fatigue, as the place was so infested by
= wild beasts that they had been Obliged tx
= keep up big fire day and night, subsist
II ing meanwhile upon such small game al
II happened to come within easy reach Sew
u eral times they heard the trumpetinG O