The observer., 1900-01-13

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One evening in the latter part oi
May we encamped upon the outskirts
of wadi of unusual size, pitching our
tents near a large spring, the water of
which was as clear as crystal and very
cool. AS it was already dark when
we had finished supper, I omitted my
usual evening stroll aqd 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 in and
made to lie down in o circle, when
they were secured by thestying up cf
a foreleg. Around the fire nay native
men, their number increased by two
we had picked up belonging to d
neighboring village, sat cheerfully
eating their dates and rice. The STAR
light shone dimly on the long necks
aud misshapen backs of the eamels,
and showed family the solitary, white:
clad figure Of the sentry; as 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 the Jungle
crept over ala silence broken fire.
quently by the cry of a iackal or the
weird howl of hyena. AS lay in
my tent I could look through tho
opening and imagine that at times I
saw the dusky outlines Of huge forms
in the jungle, while frequent growls
and mutfled Bnorts and roars told me
that it was not all Imagination.
[ 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, my nerves tingling with ex-
element. Although I had never
heard the sound before, instinct, or d
kindred sense, told me that it was tie
roar of lion. A sound of excited
voices from tho camp showed that my
men also had heard it, and wero wide
awake in consequence. In moment
| could hear them piling dry brush
wood on the slumbering Goals.
The deep, rumbling roar was ro-
peated at intervals, apparently grow
ing nearer, and dying away in the
same moaning note. Then an appar-
entity interminable time elapsed-a
creepy silence, in which the men lud-
died around the blazing campfire.
Suddenly there was o sound of
brute's heavy gallop over tho sand be-
tween the jungle and our camp, then
mighty roar, followed by thud, as q
donkey was felled, while his bray rang
ont piteously on the night air. A.
slight noise OF struggle, few more
stiaed brays and then silence, broken
q moment later by the sound of o
heavy body being dragged across the
sand.
After the first shock of excitement
I grasped my rifle aud ran towards the
men. When the lion began to drag
the carcass of the donkey into the
brush moved instinctively towards
the sound, at which the Zulu cried
"Khabdar! sahib! bara khabi
janwar" (have care, sir, very danger
Gus animaD. 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 pair
of dreaded mau- eating lions, which
had killed some fifty natives in the
past. As there is nothing in the world
that native breads so much as q man
eating lion, or leopard (the latter are
scarce, but really do exist, 1 curbed
my anger, and, resolving to square
accounts with the marauder on the
morrow, if he could bo found, re-
turned to my tent, where soon fell
asleep again.
Our cook awakened me at daylight
the following morning, and after rub
bing my eyes sleepily, I found the
darkness and the lion had faded away
together, while the wadi was alive with
the notes of bird and wild fowl. After
hasty breakfast I at once filed my
jacket pockets with cartridges and ac-
companied by Gan, the Zulu, started
out upon the spoor of the lion. When
we had proceeded about mile we
came upon the half-eaten carcass of
the donkey, lying in small thicket.
After some careful accommodating we
ascertained that the lion was not there,
and SO continued Oh his spoor over
the thin growth Of grass. AS it had |
rained lightly during the early morn
ing, this was very difficult, and after
following for half mile we lost it |
altogether. There was nothing to do
but return to camp, which we did re-
luctantly, trusting that fate would |
throw the game in our way before we
left the wadi.
With the cool of the evening came
the usual feeling of resuessness, and
calling to Gan, who was. sitting apart
from the rest. cleaning 40 eight bore,
We again took ND the spoofsof the lioD. |