Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-02-12
BY q Lion hunter.


aid me in distracting the attention Of
the lion. had only one white man
with me, and he was Ill Of fever. We
had dug pit on path frequented by
lions coming down to drink, but were
much annoyed by other animals fall
ing into it.
On the first night we caught two
hyenas; on the second, panther; on
the third, a wild hog. Those would
have been prizes had we not been
after lions, and lions alone. On the
fourth night / stationed couTle Of
natives in a tree near the path t.
brighten off all game but lions. They
were hunters, and knew the tread OF
a lion from that of any other beast.
when going down to drink the lion
generally shifts the air, probably to
find what game is abroad. On rough
path his tread is as heavy as mans
and no one who has hunted him need
be afraid of making a mistake.
ION this night, after the natives
had driven several worthless animals
away large lion and lioness came
down the path. When first discovered
the lion was ahead, but he got the
scent of the men in the tree, and
stopped short to growl and sniff, while
the lioness, who was, perhaps, very
thirsty, advanced slowly and went
down into the pit
HrTho NIT urnc fuyn ni1pc from
camp. and we heard nothing of the
row which tcok place when the lion
discovered the trick played upon his
mate. He tore around for a. spell like
mad, and then lay down at the foot
of the tree and besieged the men. As
soon as it was daylight | left camp on
horseback to ride over and see What
luck | rode straight for the place,
and when within 40 rods called to the
men
"They answered at once, and though
| could not make out what they said,
l knew that they were excited over
something. | was riding around a
clump of trees onto an open space,
when my horse suddenly started. Next
instant | was on the ground and lion
standing over me, while | could hear
the horse tearing away through the
scrub like mad The lion had pulled
me down, nearly tearing the back out
of my Jacket but not drawing blood
with his claws.
"As in a previous case | was not
frightened, because 1t had occurred
to lose my nerve. l was on my left
side. bareheaded, and the lion stood
for 4 moment with his right paw on
my shoulder, looking after the horse.
THE natives saw the fleeing horse,
knew very well what had happened
to me- and at once descended the tree
and made for camp. / did not blame
them any and perhaps that very action
saved my life. had time to collect
my thoughts in that single instant,
and as l had routed one lion by bark
ing like dog, decided to follow the
same plan in this case.
But, as l said before, lions are as
unlike as men. At my first bark this
fellow growled savagely, and gave me
terrible bite on the hip. Had | cried
out at this, or made any struggle, he
would have finished me at once. | re-
pressed my feelings and played dead.
/ had revolver strapped to my back,
but it would not do to reach for it.
after biting me the lion watched
and waited for signs of life, and when
he could detect none he seized my
right shoulder in his teeth, gave me
a shake and twist and next moment
was being carried off on his back.
His teeth did not touch my flesh, and
as / lay across him on my side my
hand struck the butt of the revolver.
/ had it out of the holster in a second, |
and then felt that / had a show |
Whether the beast felt any movement
or not he growled at intervals, and |
his breath came back on me SO strong
that was nauseated | intended to
fire into him as he was carrying me
along, but he was swaying about so
that did not dare to risk it.
"After carrying me half mile
through the scrub and over broken
ground, the lion halted at the head
OF ravine, in which he doubtless had
his lair He turned about as If to see
il pursuit had been made, and the mug
zle of the revolver came against his
left hip. l fired at once, and next in
slant was flung son the earth, while
the lion uttered scream Of pain.
Il was on my knees in a flash, but
the beast was ten feet away, going
around in circles and biting at the
wound. He did not notice me in the
least, and sent another bullet into
him just back eof the shoulder. He
uttered another scream, and instead
of rushing at me, as fully expected,
made a leap into the ravineS where
could hear him running for some dis
lance.
Il was badly shaken up, but lost
no time in getting out Of the neigh
borhood, and in the course Of an hour
reached camp. Nearly everybody was
out looking for me.
/. Now see how inconsistency that
lion acted. He came out into the
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