Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-09-21

and the apeture above was closed by
| the huge body OF an elephant, who fill
ed it completely. lit match to ex-
anime my position more carefully. There
was lot Of debris at the bottom of the
trench and an inner cave--raised above
the other portion about two feet. For
q wonder there was small trickling
stream which flowed along one side,
disappearing in fssure at The extremi-
Ity. / collected the decayed debris and
formed of them several torches. To
escape seemed impossible--to move
that mass Of flesh above would tax the
strength OF a team Of cattle--I alone
could not have moved it an inch.
I was in the wilderness. To hope
for help was futils-thsre was no in.
habitants. knew Of no hunters iv-
ing in the neighborhood. Tho mis-
sionary WAS about to visit was fair
sportsman and lay brother. but he
would not be likely to wander in these
wildS, as he could get what game he
Required within o mile or two OF the
station. I saw no prospect before me
but slow and painful death. The
heat was stiAing-there WAS just enough
OF air circulating to keep me alive.
Still, I did not quite despair. Yultures
would be attracted by the mass Of flesh
and perhaps induce some wandering
natives to follow them-then there
were lions, who would demolish the
hesh in few days, and I should be
able to scramble out OF my living
grave.
had few biscuits in my pockets
what had become of my rife I did not
KIN ow, as it was not in the trench with
me. My cartridges (for breeehloaders
had just been introduced) where USE
less. My flask contained some brsndy,
and il very hard up for food I could
cut steak out Of the Ooliah above me.
I cleared out the cave, which ran under
ground about 8 feet. had to be care
full with my matches, for l had only
one box with me, and it was hard to
distinguish day from night except by
the weird cries Of jackals, hyenas and
other wild beasts. I could hear the
rush Of wings, aud knew that the
obscene birds were collecting in their
thousands, but even they with their
powerful beaks could mako no impress
sion on the pacydermatous hide until
decay set in: I was in sort OF stupor.
I heard no Ii ions roaring, but the snarl-
ing Of hyenas was incessent, and whilst
it lasted knew it was night. My bis
cults were soon overwhelmingly
the rill OF water was sweet and cool.
At last, pressed by hunger, with my
shikar knife I cut out a piece Of the
flesh above me and broiled it in the
lembers OF FIRE Lit out OF the debris,
but the smoke nearly blinded and
choked me, and the stencil sickened
me; the meat was SO tough and nause-
Gus that 1 could not swallow it. At
last I heard lions roaring, report
above convinced me that the body ex-
tended with ga, had burst. Now all
the quadrnpsds and bipeds could de-
your it; but would they do SO in time to
save my life? I feared not, for hunger
and want of fresh air were slowly kill
ing me. Driven to desperation by
hunger, I stepped out OF my cave into
the trench, intending to cut cut a
portion Of the now putrid flesh, when /
felt shower falling on me, and, ight-
ing one Of The few matches left, 1 dis
discovered to my horror that not only
was the floor covered several inches
deep with maggots, but they were rain
ing down on me.
I staggered back towards the cave,