The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-03

| crOCOdileE'
why. the man. of course" said /,
| mo" said he, 1.-THE crocodile did, for
IL happened to be the wooden leg he
| got hold of. which was afterward seen
floating down the river and recovered,
when two of the creatures teeth were
found TO have been broken off and
| buried in IT."
This crocodile story puts me in mind
or an occasion when a party of us
went out mounted after lions to try a
| new scheme.
| Securing a small dynamite cartridge,
we inserted II in nice fieshy piece of
beef. When on coming across a lion,
who seemed inquisitively inclined and
anxious 10 make a closer acquaintance,
] we quietly and very gingerly lowered
| the tempting morsel in his way, con-
tinuing on their course This had
the desired effect In stopping the
lions progress to enjoy THE repast so
kindly and considerably provided for
him.
| The party refined up at a safe dis
lance to watch proceedings and enjoy
| the fun.
The Old lion seemed to enjoy the
delicate attention, and was chewing
away with evident relish, licking his
| lips and waggfng his very erect tail
his eyes sparkling with delight, when
all OF sudden nuhere was the desired
explosion, which blew the upper part
without pain or suffering. The skin
injured.
have often been out hunting with
the Beers. They are as good a set of
fellows and as fine shots as ever
stepped in shoe leather. Our party
consisted OF eight, including myself,
and L may say / never had a more en-
Joyable trip In my life.
was much struck by the excellent
practice made by those hunting farm
ers. 1t Is, indeed. wonderful to see
how accurately they can kill dn spite
OF THE destiny of the mirage, which
makes Ii next to impossible for any or
binary. unpracticed hand to discern OBJ
tects at any distance.
You should see how neatly they can
put bullet through a duck or a goose
on the water at a distance of 200 yards
They may well be called perfect marks
men.
Our way of working was to arrange
plans over night, moving out in the
morning of two parties of four each.
returning to camp before darkness set
in to enjoy a little sociability, as also
to relieve the cravings of the inner
man.
We have some interesting experiences
among the lions, and what struck me
most with these animals was the va
riableness of their dispositions, maxi
ing 1t all the more dangerous to the
uninitiated, tempting him to Judge of
the characters of all by the conduct of
the individual one he may happen to
first come across. The fact of doing
this very thing nearly cost me my life.
We had just paTtaken of lunch in
secluded nook when 1t occurred to
me to take a little cruise on my own
account while the others of my party
were resting their weary limbs, the
day being a particularly sultry one.
All of a sudden found myself face to
face with a huge lion, only some is
yards distant. He was lying down
with outstretched paws, apparently
very contented, and by his expression
amiably inclined, as IL he had, like our
selves, just enjoyed his midday meal
and was bent on taking a nap.
AS he seemed so unconcerned at my
presence 1 was tempted, knowing that
my comrades were so near, to sit down
and study him little before returning
to my party.
No sooner had 1 done so than he
made for me, and with terrible
spring gave me such blow with his
huge paw that Ii knocked me down as
fiat as a pancake.
In falling 1 very fortunately intui-
lively gave an unearthly yell, which
quickly brought my companions to the
rescue, knowing that some unexpected
danger had befallen me.
Iney dTTlNtu just lliiC " PiCNChS
a renewal of the attack by killing the
beast.
1 lay stunned for some little time,
but on coming to myself did not feel
much the worse beyond a general shak-
ing up, from the gentle reminder had
of the lions Availability of character.
presume his intention was to treat me
as cat does a mouse, and get little
fun out of me before finishing me off.
Be that as it may, / benefited by the
experience, which was too close shave
to be pleasant.
Those whose knowledge of the hippo
potamus is derived only from speci-
mems seen at the Zoo would indeed ex-
press surprise could they but catch
glimpse of him in his native home;
they would scarcely believe their eyes
that such a huge, ponderous, clumsy
sleepy-looking beast could be capable
of so much energy, much less go at
such a pace. for, although the water is
his natural element. make no mistake
he can go on land.
To my mind, the hippopotami some
what resemble our ironclads in being
SO unsightly and clumsy In turning.
But. Notwithstanding this, their gen.
eral appearance, like that OF the ar
morciad, strikes one with a feeling OF
awe, which is satisfactory so far as 1t
goes
These creatures, II captured when
young can be readily trained to be
quiet and docile, but the risk attendant
upon catching them Is considerable.
Their flesh is good, somewhat resem-
bling beef. Many is the good steak
have enjoyed.
One day one of our party a little
in advance of the rest, suddenly stop
ping, exclaimed, "Hippopotami." when
behold in the river beneath us was
herd of them disporting themselves.
We quietly sat down unobserved by
them at a safe distance, watching their
movements, which were both inter-
esting and amusing. 1t was most
quaint to see the little ones sometimes
clinging to the necks OF their mothers,
and at other times riding on her back.
These creatures have the credit OF
being peaceably inclined IL not inter
fered with. but with my experiences