Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-19
TheCornet's Lion Pit
By T. c. Harbaugh.
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NTHEN I received my commission
 w as cornet in one of her majesty's regiments stationed somewhere in Natal, thought myself the proudest boy in all the country. had long nursed desire to see some of the distant parts of the world, and here was chance to begin with Africa.
 l found my regiment in what is known as the uphill country. It was wild and almost entirely unbroken tract, swar1ning with wild beasts of every descri ption, a rich field for the hunter of large game, and the scene of some daring exploits during our so- journ.
 Not very far from our camp and at the edge of forest.were several pools, to which the beasts of the region were accustomed to come al night to quench their thirst.
 Our colonel had twice succeeded in killing lion by shooting from pit one of the pools. and his success created in me a desire to do something of the same kind.
 l was seconded in my wishes by a native boy named Khoolah, youth of my own age, and well acquainted with the habits of the wild beasts of Natal.
 Together, during the day, we made pit four feet deep, and running the same in length. The bottom was cov- cred with lot of native hay, pressed firmly down.
 The pit was at the foot of little bank that sloped gently toward the basin, which was within easy range.
 When we had finished it, we covered it with sticks and grass, so as not to render any proving game suspicious, and then returned to camp, nearly two miles distant, to prepare for the night ambush.
 The colonel tried to dissuade us from embarking in the enterprise on hand by telling me how he was once sur- prised in his lion pit by leopardess, but 1 was not to be turned in my inten- Ntions in this manner.
 He exhausted his arguments. and then loaned me two of his hunting rifles and lot of ammunition, which Khoo- lah and I carried to the pit, reaching it just as the sun was sinking below the dark, tree-covered hills.
 We had been careful to build the am bush so that the wind would blow to us from the pool, and thus prevent the animals seeking it from getting our wind and scenting danger. It was brilliant night, for when the sun disappeared, thousands of stars gave the sky the appearance of a vast diamond field, and on one side of it, as it were, the moon hung like sil- yer shield of great brightness. p,,t h 1f disturbed, for great clouds began to chase one another across the heavens, and at times we could not see our hands before our faces. More than once, for moment, l wished myself back in camp, but did not mention the wish to Khoolah, who, crouched beside me in the pit, was eager for the sport to begin. It was an hour after night had fair ly set in when we heard peculiarly harsh cry in the belt of timber beyond the water.
 He is coming!" exclaimed the Natal boy, finding my arm in the darkness.
 And I knew that the king of beasts was coming to the pool.
 A strange stiffness seemed to fol- low the roar. It lasted ten minutes and then another sound came from an- other part Of the field.
 "We are going to have royal sport, nhoolah,'' said I. ''There are two lions" As the moon emerged from behind a yloud, I saw an enormous object be- tween us and the shining surface of the pond. It was so large and ill-shaped that I did not know what it was till | khnntah with n OIannR told a rhinoceros had come for a bath. He had no sooner spoken than the huge beast plunged into the water, which was not deep at the edge of the basin, and began to wallow, now and then showing his great sides to us as if he invited 8 shot.