The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

jungle the. hyenas would overtake me be-
fore / covered half the distance, as they
were by this time only couple OF hundred
yards away and making a Decline for the
tree under which / was. l also knew that If
L attempted to climb the tree that they,
with their well-knOwn stubborn disposition,
would remain under the tree until l either
fell out from exhaustion or became the
prey OF some of the numerous snakes that
infest the ceiba tree and that if L shot one
or more of the hyenaS the rest would make
mincemeat of me. All of these things
flashed through my mind in an instant,
and then 1t suddenly occurred TO me that
the laughing hyena, in its wild state, never
eats flesh until it becomes putrid, and so L
concluded my only safety lay in pretending
to be dead. simultaneously with the
thought L dropped to the ground, rolled
over on my side and lay perfectly still
in a few moments the tree was reached
and surrounded by the vicious, snarling
bruteS to the number of at least forty.
When they discovered me they came to
sudden stop. Then, one more bold than the
rest, approached me, first smelling me all
over, then licking my hands @and>faee, with
a tongue as rasping as file. Then the rest
OF them, fighting and yelping with that
horrible, deViliSh laugh, began To pull and
when l thought they not finding me suft1-
GENTLY dead 10 suit their taste, would leave
me, two of them sank their fangs into my
flesh, one grabbing me by the right Shout
der the other by the right ankle. which.
although protected somewhat by the heavy
suit of ducking l wore, yet caused me in
tense pain.
with me between them the hyenas
started of in a long swinging trot across
the plain. followed by the entire bowling
pack. Mile after mile they traversed, seem
ingly tireless. The sun went down, the
moon came up, and still they kept on with
ont stopping for a minute. At length, after
what seemed to me an eternity, they came
to succession of small hills and Travelled
for a short space of time at a slower gait
until at length the animals came to an
opening in the side of one of the hills. The
81 Oh dor AVrr
me and the other dragged me into the
opening which gradually grew larger until
l could see by the moonlight, which shOne
through a rift in the top, that l was in a
cavern some thirty feet in length and about
fifteen in width; filed with bones and ref
use matter which smelied like a charnel
house. After dragging me in the hyenas
dropped me on the floor, and then recon-
menced their shifting and licking which
they renewed at intervals during the night.
ALL DAY THEY WATCHED HIM.
"In the meantime I was suffering un-
speakable torture from my wounds, but
dared not move lest they discover the fact
that 1 was yet alive. Finally morning
came. and with its advent about two-thirds
OF the hyenas went away. The sun came
UP and shone down through the rift upon
me with an intense heat. All during the
day / lay in any position the animals fan
cy chose to drag me, suffering fearful tor
lures from thirst, the heat and my wounds,
and almost insane from the bites OF myri-
ads OF flies and other insects. My tongue
was swollen so that I could not open my
mouth, even had 1 wished to, and at times
/ was almost tempted TO end my sufferings
by "A struggle with the animals, but l re-
Trained from the attempt.
Finally the day drew TO q close, and as
the sun sank from view all the hyenas but
two left the cave. The night passed as the
preceding one. save 1 was not dragged
about by the two animals left TO guard me.
Along toward morning one of the remain
ing two left and at length. when daylight
came the last one arose with yawn and
shufFied over TO where / lay. Never shall /
forget his appearance. Scared from num-
in one eve, he presented an appearance not
calculated TO inspire confidence.
HE approached TO within Few feet re-
eardfng me steadily for a few minutes,
then as IL satisfied | was not in proper
state for his breakfast, gave his head
ouick shake, threw no his heels and with
a fiendish laugh disappeared
Il lay quite still until sure he had gone.
Then crawling to the entrance TO the cave,
after a cautious survey. emerged from the
cave and. crawling under bush, lay there
Cor several hours. Along toward noon no.
ticed a large body moving over The plain
below about two miles away, which 1 at
length made out 10 be a caravan. Al last
I succeeded in taking OF my undershirt.
Iveak as / was, and finally by attaching Ii
70 a hush and constantly waving III, ~ at
tDactfng the attention of the caravan. L
arseanflv saw the body stop. and shortly
afteruard made out two men on camels,
~alloDin1 toward me-. When they ap-
5e-osched within about fifty yards OF me,
70 endure the mental strain 1 tainted dead