The Winslow mail., 1901-01-03
The eCornet's Lion Pit
VATHEN 1 received my commission
BY T. C. Harbaugh.
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w as cornet in one of her majesty S
regiments stationed somewhere in
Natal, l 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 CHARGE
to begin with Africa.
| found my regiment in what is
known as the uphill country. 1t was
a wild and almost entirely unbroken
tract, swarming with wild beasts of
every description, 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 a forest were several pools,
to which the beasts of the region were
accustomed TO come at night to quench
their thirst
Our colonel had twice succeeded in
killing a lion by shooting from a pit
which he had dug for the purpose near
one of the pools, and his success created
in me desire to do something of the
same kind.
| 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 a
pit four feet deep, and running the
same in length The bottom was COW
cred with a 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
render any prowling 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 l was not to be turned in my inten-
tions in this manner.
He exhausted his arguments. and
then loaned me two of his hunting rifles
and lot of ammunition, which Khoo-
lah and | 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 tc
us from the pool, and thus prevent
the animals seeking it from getting oul
wind and scenting danger.
1t was brilliant night, for when
the sun disappeared, thousands OF
stars gave the sky the appearance of q
vast diamond field and on one side OF
it, as it were, the moon hung like sill
YER shield of great brightness.
But this scene of beauty was soor
disturbed, for great clouds began tC
chase one another across the heavens
and at times we could not see oul
hands before our faces
More than once, for moment.
wished myself back in camp, but l did
not mention the wish to Khoolah. who
crouched beside me in the pit. WA:
eager for the sport to begin.
1t was an hour after night had fair
ly set in when we heard a peculiarly
harsh cry in the belt of timber beyont
the water.
He is coming!" exclaimed the Nata
BOY, finding my arm in the darkness.
And / knew that the king of beast!
was coming to the pool.
4 strange stiffness seemed to fol
low the roar. 1t lasted ten minutes
and then another sound came from an
other part of the field.
I'VE are going TO have royal sport
Khoolah,'' said l. There are two lions.
AS the moon emerged from behind
cloud, L saw an enormous object be
tween us and the shining surface of tn
pond. 1t was so large and ill-shapeC
that | did not know what it was til
Khoolah, with a glance, told me tina
a rhinoceros had come for bath.
He had no sooner spoken than tn
huge beast plunged into the water
which was not deep at the edge of tn
basin, and began to wallow, now ant
then showing his great sides to us a
if he invited shot.
But we had come for nobler game.
All at once the rhinoceros checke,
his sport. and Khoolah, in a whisper
told me to look to the right.
| did as | was told, and saw, stand
ing near the water, a figure who's
natural majesty proclaimed that tn
lion had come.
! could see his great name and max