Year: 1859

My Lord the Lion"


I'VE had ridden carelessly forward adm;r;no
the View' or speculating on the game to he found
In the mountain passes, when the sudden halt
ana the unslinging of carbines startled us
Flushing past the rear files, we galloped to the
front just in time to prevent the sergeant who
led the advance firing at noble lion, which, ad-
vanclng towards the same path which we were
pursuing, had halted abruptly at our view
He had evidently come from a different direc-
ton to that we were pursuing and was making
his way toward the very pile of mountains whose
sombre colors had excited our curiosity. Five
minutes later, and we should not have seen him.
but as it happened, there he stood, evidently
very much astonlshed at thus Pumping sudden
ly on so large party. Were we to fire, we
should doubtless either kill or mortally wound
the animal. In the first case, all would be we'll,
and we should be the richer by lion-skin; in
the second, we should be sure to lose one or
more men, and it was responsibility the young
officer in command would not assume Hastily
giving the order to unsling the carbines, he
closed up his men with some difficulty, for the
horses were very restivc. In case the lion show
ed disposition to attack, all were to face to-
ward him, and it was to be hoped that the gem
eral discharge would prove mortal II disposed
to let us do so, we were to pass him quietly


l had often heard that the lion by day in n
way resembles the same animal by night Dur
ing the darkness, seeking his prey where he an
find it, he will attack anything, with the great
est ferocty: but during the daytime, it being
his proper period for sleep, and being besides
generallygorged with food he seldom attacksman.
In the present instance, had little confidence
in the effects of our fire, for our horses, as their
riders forced them to approach their dreaded
enemy, because more and more alarmed and res.
tive. The lion was doubtless the one had
heard roar in the distance the previous night,
and had been to the other side seeking his food
among the dauars of the native tribes near Ten
let, from whence he was now returning to his
den.


! Our files we'll closed up, we neared the lion,
who showed no symptoms of fear gazed at us,
not savagely, but apparently with great cnros-
ity. Then he moved his tail to and fro. like a
large cat; and as we neared him, he deliberate
ly sat down on his headquarters, looking then
Tor all the world like queer-colored large New
toundland. Just as we ranged up with him, -
passing by in single file, the horses heads and
tails well together, he opened his huge mouth
with mighty yawn, uttering as he did SO a
sound between heavy sigh and a growl, This
he did without rising, and in most sleepy mar :.
ner, as though he were supremely indifferent to
our presence. All this time our horses were
terribly excited, and my own--a jet-black Syri-
an barb, which had carried me many mile
over the plains Of Wallacha and Roumelia, and
who, from his intense love Of mischief and fight
ing, had long since christened Bashi Bazouk'
was now completely cowed, and though walk
ing at a very slow pace, his black coat was all
white with foam. was not ffteeu PAGES from
he lion, and could not resist the fancy that
seized me to rein in and look at him. Tremb-
ling in every limb, my horse obeyed me, and as
the rear files of our escort moved past, contem-
plated the noble brute He was splendid male
of the color called by the natives 8 the black
lion : and which, they say, is the most fierce
and terrible of all. He seemed sleepy and quie.
enough just then, and did not even look at met
The jangling of the mems arms appeared to
catch his attention and it was indeed but
moments space that was allowed me for con-
temptation, for slight move on his part caused
my horse to bound aside so suddenly as almost
to unhorse me and ween | recovered my seat


and my power over my frightened steed, the
sleepy fellow had deliberately laid down, and
rested his noble head on two mighty paws,


he followed us with his eyes as we slowly moved
away