IN THE JAWS OF A LION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 195, 16 August 1879, Page 4

IN THE JAWS OF A LION.

I was oat after porcupines, and was lying down one night near a porcupine's hole waiting (or him to ccma out. I bed no goo, but only a hunting knife, and a large knobkerrie, with which to knock the porcupine on the nose ; for Ihat, as you know, kills him at once. I did not hear a sound till I found the grass near me move, and a lion pnt his paw on tne and lifted me up. Tbe brnte pressed his clawg into roe, but luckily my leather belt prevented his teeth from damaging me, and he carried me by holding on to my belt and coat. If either of these had given way I -hould have been laid bold of io a far ©ore rough manner. A lion is like a cat in one thiDg, he can bold a live creature in bis mouth and not damage tt, juet as I have seen a cat carry a mouse. I knew the nature of the lion wel! enough to kuow that if I struggled I .hould have my neck broken or my head smashed in an instant, so I did not struggle, but quietly drew my knife and thought wbat was^ best to do. I thought at first of trying to strike bim in the heart, but I could not reach that part of him, and his skin looked so loose tbat I feared I couid not strike deep enough, carried as I was. I knew it would be life or death witb me in an instant, so turning myself a bit, I gashed tbe lio_'_ nose und cut it through. Tbe lion dropped rne as I should drop a poisonous enako and jumped away roaring with pain. He stood for an inslatt looking at roe, but Idid not move, and he did not seem to like to carry me again. More than once be came up to witbin a few yards, licking the blood as it poured from bis nose ; but there I remained like a stone, and be was fairly afraid to tackle me again. I knew a buffalo and an ox •re very sensitive about the nose, and a cat just tipped on tbe nose can't stand it, bo I thought a lion might be the same, and so it proved. — '• Among the tbe Zolus," by Lieutenant- Colonel A. W. Dray eon, B.A.