The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-01-03

I away was land second to mono in
point of fertility.
One evening in the latter part OF
May we encamped upon the outskirts
of wadi of unusual size, pitching our
tents near large spring, the water of
which was as clear rs crystal and very
cool. As it was already dark when
we had finished supper, omitted my
usual evening stroll and prepared to
retire Mt once, informing the men that
we would remain over here for Mt least
q day, the animals needing rest badly
after their long pull through the sand.
The camels had been driven in and
made to lie down in circle, when
they were secured by the tying up CT
u foreleg Around the fire my native
men, their number increased by two
we had picked up belonging to
neighboring village, sat cheerfully
eating their dates and rice. The star
light shone dimly ON the long necks
and misshapen backs of the camels,
and showed family the solitary, white
clad figure of the sentry, rs he stood
at the outskirts of the camp, grooming
to himself mournful Matabele song.
Soon the men had finished eating and
were stretched at full length about the
fire, while the silence of tho jungle
crept over ALA silence broken fire..
quehtly by the cry of jackal or the
weird howl OF n hyena. As lay in
my tent I could look through the
opening and imagine that nt times ]
saw the dusky outlines of huge forms
in the jungle, while frequent growls
and muilled snOrts and ronrs told me
that it was not all imagination.
L was rapidly passing into dream
land when, following period of in
tense silence. came far away, deep,
moaning sound. While it was by no
means loud or startling, it brought me
wide awake and sitting upright in an
instant, ms nerves tingling with ex-
element. Although L had never
heard the sound before, instinct, or Il
kindred sense, told me that it was the
roar of lion. A sound of excited
voices from the camp showed that my
men also had heard it, and were wide
awake in consequence. In n moment
1 could hear them piling dry brush
y
The deep, rumbling roar was re-
peated at intervals, apparently grow
ing nearer. and dyiug away in the
J same moaning note. Then an appar-
emily intermineble time elapsed-a
, creepy silence, in which the men hud-
died around the blazing campfire.
Suddenly there was sound of n
brute's heavy gallop over the sand be-
tween the Jungle and our camp, then a
mighty roar, followed by thud, as O
J donkey was felled, while his bray rang
ont piteously on the night air. A
slight noise of struggle, few more
stitied brays and then silence, broken
moment later by the sound OF a
heavy body being dragged across the
y sand.
: After the first shock Of excitement
I grasped my rifle and ran towards the
} men. When the lion began to drag
| the carcass Of the donkey into the
brush L moved iustinctively towards
, tho sound, at which the Zulu cried
: quickly: "KhabdGrl sahibl bara khabi
; janwar" (have care, sir, very danger
l ous animaD. When l turned to up
, braid them all for their cowardice
, they explained that the natives who
had recently joined us had told them
7 that this wadi was inhabited by pair
. of dreaded man-eating lions, which
3 had killed some fifty natives in the
4 past. As there is nothing in the world
= that native breads so much as a man
eating lion, or leopard (the latter are
$ scarce, but really do exist, L curbed
l my anger, and, resolving to square
: morrow, il he could be found, re-
| turned to my tent, where soon fell
3 asleep again.
a Our cook awakened me at daylight
8 the following morning, aud after rub
: bing my eyes sleepily, 1 sound the
= darkness and the hon had faded away
: together, while the wadi was alive will
the notes of bird and wild fowl. After
. hasty breakfast at once filled my
q jacket pockets with cartridges and &C
: conipanied by Gan, the Zulu, started
: out upon the spoor Of the lion. Wher
o We had proceeded about q mile WI
Q came upon the half-eaten carcass oI
: the donkey, lying in q small thicket
, After some careful accommodating W,
b ascertained that the lion was not there
II and so continued on his spoor ovel
the thin growth of grass. As it hat
i rained lightly during the early morn
h ing. this was sery difficult, and aftel
vt following for half mile we lost i
!, altogether. There was nothing to d,
l. but return to camp, which we did re
d luctantly, trusting that fate wouls
;, throw the game in our way before W,
u left the wadi.
uD1Xith the cool OF the evening cam,
sral feeling OF 'resilessness. an
AL 10 Gan, who was sitting apar
the rest. cleaning his eight-bore
~ took up :he spoor Of the lion