ADVENTURES OF BARON VON MUNCHAUSEN.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF BARON VON MUNCHAUSEN.

"When at last my parents gave their consont to my travelling, my uncle took mo on a trip to Ceylon. Our vessel arrived there after a stormy voyage of six weeks. About two weeks after our arrival the Governor's son asked mo to go hunting with him. I accepted the invitation. Now my friend wns a big, strong man, used to the heat, but I, unused to it, soon grow* tired and lagged behind.

"I was just going to sit down by tho shore of a raging river, when I heard a noiso behind me on the road. I looked back and saw an immense lion coming towards mc, who plainly indicated that he meant to make his breakfast off me, without waiting oven to ask my permission. My gun was loaded only with shot. I had no time to think, and in nvy confusion I determined to fire at the beast in tho hope of frightening him away, But in my anxiety I did not wait until tho lion came within tho range of my gun. Tho noiso made him furious, and ho came at mo with a rush. More from instinct than sober reflection, I turned to run, but—oven now it makes me shudder to think of it—a few feet from mo stood a horrible crocodile, .with mouth wide open, ready to J swallow me, i " Just imagine, gentlemen, the ! frightful position I was in ! Behind me the lion, before mo the crocodile, to my left a raging river, to my right an abyss, in whose depths, as I afterwards learned, tho most , poisonous snakes abounded. Almost fainting I dropped to the ground, In a few moments I hoard a loud, strange noiso. When at last I dared to raise my head to look around, i what do you think had happened ? ; The immense force with which the lion jumped, the moment I dropped to the ground, had carried him over and above me, straight into the crocodile's open mouth. The head of I (lie one stuck in tho throat of the ■ other. I sprang up just in time, : drew my hunting knife, and, with one stroke, severed the lion's head, I the body falling at my feet. Then II took my gun and rammed the head : further into the crocodile's throat, !choking him to death. "Soon after I had gained this great victory over two terrible foes, my friend returned to see what had become of mc, After congratulations we measured tho crocodilo and found his length to be forty feet seven inches, "As soon as we had told this extraordinary adventure to the Governor, he sent several men with a waggon to fetch tho two animals to his house,

"From the lion's skin I had a furrier make tobacco pouches, some of which I presented to my friends. The crocodile was stuffed and mounted, and is now one of Uie greatest curiosities of the museum at Amsterdam."

MUNCHAUSEN'S PARTRIDGES,

"One day I went info the wo'ods to try a new gun, and had used up all my annunilion when a covey of partridges rose from almost under my feet. Tho desire to have a few of I them on my dinner table that night gave me a bright idea. As soon as I saw whei;e the birds flew, I loaded my gun, but instead of shot I put in the ramrod, which I had pointed at tho upper end as well as I could in a hurry. Then I went towards the birds, pulled the trigger as they flushed, and had the pleasure of seeing seven spitted on my ramrod. As I tell you gentlemen, there is nothing like being able to help oneself."

A BEAUTIFUL .BLACK FOX,

"Another time, in a forest in Russia, I came across a magnificent black fox; Shooting him would never do, as it would spoil his beautiful fur. Now, Mr, Fox stoud close to a tree. Instantly J took the bullet from my gun and put in its place „, large nail, fired, and hit him so skilfully that his tail was nailed to the tree, I went quietly up to him, took my hunting knife, made a cross cut over the face, took my whip and boat him out of his beautiful fur so nicely that it was a joy and a real wonder to scc."-From " German Wit and Humour."