In a Lion’s Grip.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 505

In a Lion’s Grip.

A traveller who has lately returned from Africa thus describes an interview that he had with a lion, which seems to have been rather an unpleasant affair for him. >

One morning (he says) I started off with some native beaters to see what I could do in the way of lion-hunting, and we had not gone far when I espied a superb beast with a glorious mane. I fired, and he ran farther into the scrub. Feeling sure that he

was wounded, 1 went to look for him.

After beating about in the jungle for some time, we came to a small clearing, and saw, fifty yards off, the lion in great anger, lashing his side with his tail. I dropped on one knee, aimed at the head, and fired. The brute, roaring awfully, bounded forward toward us, and my beaters ran off.

I fired again, and hit the beast, but without killing him, and in a moment we were face to face. I was then knocked over, and felt my

right leg squeezed as if in a vice. 1 tried to seize the brute by the throat, but was held too firmly by him, and the feeling that I was lost e.tme home to me with terrible o Suddenly I felt the lion’s grip relax, and, what seemed to me miraculous, he moved off a few feet, and stood looking in the direction) in which my men h. " If he thinks me dead,” I thought, "perhaps I may be saved.” While he stood thus, gazing through the bush, I was able to get hold of my rifle, and rapidly fired

just as he was turning round to finish me. By good chance 1 hit a vital spot, and the animal rolled over, dead. My leg was in a fearful state, and so were my chest and shoulder; and for twenty days after the accident I was in the hospital, being treated for the bruises and laceration I had gained.