AN ADVENTURE WITH LIONS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 22, 3 June 1909, Page 877

AN ADVENTURE WITH LIONS

A writer in the Catholic Standard and Times tell? tbe following thrilling story of an adventure with lions in South Africa : — A mechanical engineer named Smith found himself literally 'up a tree ' one day. He was cycling along the line of a South African railway extension. On reaching the spot where the line crosses the Umfuli River, he found, as the bridge is not yet erected, that he would have to go round by the deviation and cross at the railway drift. This necessitated wading through the river and carrying tho bicycle. On reaching the level again he put his machine down in order to resume his boots and socks, and, feeling rather fatigued after his exertions, stayed for a brief rest. While enjoying the rest his attention was drawn by a troop of very fine sable — two magnificent bulls and three cows — making their way up from the other side of the river in the direction of a fringe of forest beyond. Feeling sufficiently refreshed, he picked up his machine preparatory to starting again for Gadzima, where he wished to reach before it became dark. The next moment Mr. Smith received a shock which he will not forget for many- a long day. About fifty yards away and slightly to his right were three lions, so intent on stalking the sable that they were nob looking in his direction. It was an awkward position, to say the least, and for a brief space he stood like one petrified, but," although his limbs for a moment were numb, his mind was active enough. The largest of the three was a large black-maned lion, the second was a lioness, while the third was an almost fullgrown cub. The latter was the first to observe Mr. Smith, and, uttering a low growl, made for the unhappy man, who, dropping his bicycle, stayed not on the order of his going, but went for a friendly tree at top speed. He had just time to notice that the parent lions had started in the wake of their young hopeful, -the sight, as may be imagined, only serving to accelerate his pace. The tree was but a short distance away, but to the hunted it appeared a mile, expecting every second to be struck down It was destitute of branches for about ten feet up, and how he managed to climb it at all will forever remain a mystery to him. Just as he thought himself safe, however, there was a terrific roar behind him, and he had an uncanny feeling that he was being dragged off the tree. The lion, outstripping his mate in the chase, had made his spring, missing his quarry by a few inches only. Even as it was, his huge claws tore away the greater part oi Mr, Smith's trousers and inflicted several fairly deep scratches — a narrow escape, indeed, Exhausted and pant-

ing, trembling in every limb, with the perspiration streaming out of him, he managed to draw himself up into comparative security, and here for nearly an hour he remained in this dreadful position, while the baffled lion, now joined by the lioness, raged below, every now and again making frantic springs, when their fetid breath came so unpleasantly near as to almost bring on nausea. At first Mr. Smith could not understand what had become of the young lion, which went for him "first, and but for the fact that he was not in a position to appreciate the humor of the thing, he witnessed a sight which must have been comical in the extreme, though to it alone he is firmly convinced his life was due. . It seems that Leo junior stopped half way to examine the bicycle, which had been flung down hastily, with the result that the front wheel was left revolving. This arrested the young lion's attention, and, like a child with a new toy, he turned aside to examine this curious phenomenon. Cautiously giving it a pat with one of his huge paws, which only mado it go round faster, his wonder increased, and he sat down on his haunches regarding it with a puzzled air, and not for some time did he join the parent couple at the foot of the tree, but not until he had ' mouthed ' the machine "considerably and twisted the handlebar. During the tenure of his unpleasant perch Mr. Smith cast many wistful glances in the direction of his double-barrelled gun, which was strapped to his bicycle, but it might as well have been a hundred miles away. He cast his eyes about in order to discover some place of retreat so soon as the lions should retire, and, to his great joy, saw a hut some three hundred yards away. Just before dark his captors began to pay less attention to him, and, scenting the sable again in the vicinity by aid of a strong breeze, they left after about three-quarters of an hour, to the extreme relief of their unfortunate prisoner. After waiting for about half an hour, until everything was quiet, he cautiously descended, and' not daring to go back for his gun, fearfully made his way to the hut referred to, making quick sprints from tree to tree. There was no roof, and the hut was but a flimsy structure, but, after making the entrance as secure as possible, and kindling a big fire, he soon dropped off to sleep. At daybreak he was able to resume his journey, eventually reaching Gadzima and Salisbury little the worse, beyond a very natural nervous shock, for his thrilling experience.