The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-02-06

away was land second to none 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 as crystal aud very
cool. AS ii was already dark when
we had finished supper, L omitted my
usual evening stroll and prepared to
! retire at once, informing the men that
we would remain over here for at least
day, the animals needing rest badly
after their long pull through the sand
The camels had been driven III and
made to lie down in circle, when
they were secured by the tying up CT
foreleg. Around the fire my native
men, their number increased by two
we had picked up belonging to a
neighboring village, sat cheerfuly
eating their dates and rice. The star
light shone dimly on the long necks
and misshapen backs of the camcls,
| and showed family the solitary, white.
clad figure of the sentry, as he stood
at the outskirts of the camp, grooming
to himself a mournful Matabele song
Soon the men had finished eating and
were stretched Mt full length about the
Gre, while the silence OF the Jungle
crept over ala silence broken fire.
quently by the cry of jacbal or the
weird howl of q hyena. As L lay in
my tent / could look through the
opening and imagine that at times [
saw the dusky outlines of huge forms
In the jungle, while frequent growls
and muflled snorts and roars told me
that it was not all imagination.
was rapidly passing into dream
land when, following a 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, nv nerves tiugling with ex-
element. Although had never
heard the sound before, instinct, or n
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 i'll consequence. In a moment
could hear them piling dry brush
Q
The deep, rumbling roar was re-
peated at intervals, apparently grow
ing nearer. and dying away in the
| same moaning note. Then an appar-
emily interminable 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 n
mighty roar, followed by thud, as a
donkey was felled, while his bray rang
out piteously on the night air. 4
slight noise OF struggle, few more
stitled brays and then silence, broken
moment later by the sound of q
heavy body being dragged across the
| sand.
After the first shock Of excitement
l grasped my ride and ran towards tn g
men. When the lion began to drag
/ the carcass of the donkey into the
/ brush / moved instinctiyely towards
\ the sound, at which the Zulu cried
/ quickly: "Khabdarl sahib! bara khabi
| ianwar" (have care, sir, very danger
| Gus auimal). When / turned TO up
/ braid them all for their cowardice
they explained that the natives who
had recently joined us had told them
that this wadi was inhabited by n pair
OF dreaded man-catiug lions, which
had killed some fifty natives in the
past As there is nothing in the world
that n native breads so much as man
eating lion, or leopard (the latter are
scarce, but really do exist. i curbed
my anger, and, resolving TO square
accounts with the marauder on Che
morrow, If he could be found, re.
turned to my tent, where ] soon fell
asleep again.
Our cook awakened me at daylight
the following morning, aud after rub
bling my eyes slccpily, / found the
darkness aud the lion had faded away
together, while the wadi was alive witt
the notes Of bird and wild fowl. After
r. hasty breakfast j at once filled ms
jacket pockets with cartridges and &C
cOmpanied by Gan, the Zulu. started
ont upon the spOor Of tho lion Whcr
we had proceeded about n milo w,
came upon tho half-caten carcass oil
the donkey, lying i'm n small thicket
After some careful accommodating Vs.,
ascerlaiued that the hon was not there
and 80 continued on his spoor Over
the thin growth Of grass. As it hal
raiued lightly during the early morn
ing, this was very difficult, and after
following for n half mile we lost II
altogether There was nothing TO d,
but return TO camp, which we did re
luctantly, trusting that fate would
throw The game in our way before w,
left the wadi.
With the cool Of tho evening came
the usual feeling OF restlessness, auC
calling to Gan, who was sitting apar
from The rest, cleaning his eight-bore
I'VE again took ny the spoor Of the lion