Year: 1859

A LION ADVENTURE IN ALGERIA.

 I was aroused by something, and felt pain in my head, and directly afterwards received blow on the head, through the side of tho tent, which made me think for moment that had been struck with an iron bar with claws on the end which l carried with me in my wagon but in an instant the idea flashed across my mind that it was Q lion which was shilling at me through the back of the tent If l re- mained where l was, without moving, there was the probability of the beast tearing up the tent and dragging me through, On the other hand an attempt to move closer to the fire would pro- bably be detected and the lion has the sRmo characteristic as the cat, and would doubtless, have sprnng upon me in that case, and have car ried me off While hesitating what to do, the animal, most likely from not being able any longer to feel anything through the wall of tho tent, must have turned away, for after what was in fact but few moments, but which seemed very long time there was terrific shriek, fol- lowed by low deep growing, then a short and a louder growL

 felt about for my revolver; which had placed beside my head before going to sleep and creeping around the tent saw the horrid beast standing perfectly still with glaring eyes, and continuing the same low; deep growing and holding in his mouth the body of man, which At ONNdo4phdllN lOWtTtu OU lile EEOuDQ us Wltn the intention of taking a frmer hold, but never entirely letting go of it saw by the direction of his look that he had caught sight of me, and so terrible were the associations connected with the beast in my mind that.I dared not move or breathe for some seconds, when the thought suddenly occurred to me that it must be tho body of Hamed he held in his mouth My lik- ing for the man had become so strong that the desire to rescue or avenge him drove every feel ing oi fear out ot my mind, and with steady ann. l hred at his oody lust behind the shoulder Singuiariy enough, although knew had hit hlm he merely gave loud growl, and remained stationary, without relaxing his hold of the Arabs body How long he would have remained In thls state of immobility l cannot say, but was just about to try the effect of a second shot when regular volley of guns was fired from out ot the darkness; the beast sprang forward towards me almost at the same instant that felt sharp stingiag sensation in the upper part ol my arm, and fell to the ground so close to me that stepped back to avoid blow from his Laws in his death struggles They did not last long, and as soon as they were over 1 fetched 0 lighted brand from the fire, and first holding it to the face of the dead man to see who it was, and feeling much relieved at finding it was not Hamed, waved 1t about as a signal for the others that they might come with safety They soon came and clustered around the body of the dead lion some kicking it, and others splitting on and reviling it. and all of them claiming the honor of having killed him--a claim that they seemed far more interested in defending than in commiserating the fate eff their dead companion.

 All the efforts We made to release the latter unfortunate from the jaws of the lion were una. vailing, without having recourse to our kniyes, and as there was not the least doubt of his being dead, for the teeth of the powerful brute were buried in his breast and back, We determined on leaving both bodies where they were until daylight The first thing did when l awoke was to look for the bodies of the Arab and the lion. They were lying where the beast had fal- len in the night, and his stiffened jaws still held the body of the man as in a powerful vice.

 The desire of preserving record of the event for my friends in England to lock at, was too too strong to be resisted, so we set to work, cut three pieces of timber to point, and having raised the lion to an upright position, kept him up by means of the pieces of wood To conceal these, l planted shrub here and there, which had the desired effect; and the result obtained was negative the like of which believe never was seen, The attitude is as natural as possi. blei and makes one shudder to look at 1t

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