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

Many years ago, when quite young
man, was stationed at Kitope, small
town near the Tuwego river, q continent
of the Kucha, which last named stream
discharges its waters into the Indian ocean
200 miles or so south Of Zanzibar, on the
east coast of Africa.
Employed in my office there was a fine
young fellow of 10, Harold Beeton by name,
who had come out with mo from New
York and to whom 1 had become greatly
attached
EARLY in July, the least unpleasant
month of the 10 in that part Of the world,
the youth, accompanied by Kola and Ma
tn, two Wagindo natives, went up the Tu-
wego by boat on three days hunting
expedition, but with no intention of stray
ing into the forests or jungles, the river
itself affording abundant sport in the way
of water fowl, crocodiles and oven occa-
sional hippopotami, one Of which creatures
Harold had an especial ambition to shoot
After the three days and two more had
passed without bringing the boy, became
seriously alarmed for his safety and deter
mined to go after him.
Looking up two brothers, Tom and Joe
Brackett, who hailing originally from
Florida, were old African colonists and
experienced hunters, we went to the river,
purchased stout boat, stocked 1t with
plentiful supplies and on the morning
of the sixth day started up stream in search
of the belated men.
Using sails when the wind served and
at other times rowing, we made about 25
miles the first day, and before shutdown
came to q sand bar, where the dead body
of a huge crocodile, shot through the head,
heap Of ashes, the feathers of birds and
numerous other signs, showed that the
hunters had, for a greater or less time,
camped on the spot We, too, decided to
spend the night there.
Hauling our boat from the water, prop
ping it, upside down, on stakes and sur
rounding it by brush fence, we made q
rude shelter, before which, by turns, we
kept bright fire constantly burning
Frequently through the night we heard
\ the roaring Of near at hand lions and the
yelpsng clamor of jackals- sounds which
\ did not lessen our anxiety In regard to
young Beeton and his companions.
Once just as 1 came out to relieve Joe,
saw in the edge Of the forest little be-
yond the lighted circle two luminous balls,
fixed and motionless, to which l quietly
called the mems attention.
tits a lion watching us, whispered
Joe; ''let's shoot together"
Raising our rifles and aiming straight
between the fiery orbs, we pulled triggers
simultaneously, but only it's own echo an
swered the blended report, though the glar-
ing eyes disappeared.
"Pshaw, we've both mlssedP' exclaim-
ed.
"Not SO sure of that" observed Tom
Bracket, awakened by the noise. 'Weu
take look anyhow"
I was starting impulsively forward when
Joe caught my arm and said Not fol-
your lifel Don't stir out of the light with
out flrebrand. There may be a dozen
lions within 80 yards. I've known more
than one man killed through such foolish
ness"
On this we each snatched up blazing
branch and with rifles held ready for in.
slant use stepped across to the spot where
the eyes had been, and there, stone dead
In the thick underbrush lay q great, blach
named lion! Both bullets had pierced hi:
brain, and he had died as suddenly as il
struck by lightning.
"Harkl'' said Joe, 'I thought SO" az
the rustling of the shrubbery proved thai
several other brutes of like kind were glid
ing away at our approach.
1t took our united strength to drag tht
dead lion over to the protecting fire, whert
we speedily removed his hide-an unsual
" large one, measuring 10 feet and Z inch
es from snout to tail tip. Them leaving
Tom on guard, Joe and I crept back tx
bed.
Next morning at sunrise we resumed
our journey up the river, which here flow
from southwesterly direction, with ;
scarcely perceptible current.
The events of the night before had give1
rise to gloomy forebodings, and as we wen
along not one of us CARED to put into word
the haunting fear Which oppressed hi
heart 1t seemed Only too probable, W,
thought, that either the whole party haC
persisted, or hatfthe half savage nature
of the blacks had succumbed to the tempta
ton offered by the valuable arms, golC
watch and othf equipments of th1 whit
youth, whom they had perhaps mdrdere'
and robbed-9b thing they could easily do
as both carried old fintlock musketsA
True, the men, who spoke English well
were considered fairly honest fellows b,