AFRICAN ADVENTURES

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4701, 21 April 1894, Page 3

AFRICAN ADVENTURES

(CONTINUED.) [By a Mastbrtomah.] . (All Rights Rrnwd.) continual he&v; of Hoe next few days wo wer forced to ereot a bigli coverim;, no only for the purpose of sheltering tli brißbt rays of the roavinß fire, butals to found a dry and convenient, plac in whiok to paok ft largo supply c fuel. Moreover, thu voughly-buil abed enabled Carey to enjoy a sea before tlio warmth of the chuerin, blaze. Pale and emaciated, and a '* yet very weak, all his attempts t walk about almost as frcquontly com pelled him to again seek his couch. Early on the afternoon of toe tliir day, anticipating a usual call from ou nightly foea, Rogers and myself lui dona to obtain some rest. Toward tho evening wewero awakoned, whei Caroy mentioned that some birds wer paradinsujttbo banks oi the stream Taking'dona ahoi-gun, and slippin; its woollen, cuvering. I the: articles frot the 'hands of Rogers an>t loadec Looking through the entranco, I sai that tho guinea'fowl were out of I " ' range, but that as seme of them were 'faced in our direction, there was a possibility of them coming a liitle nearer, I waited anx ou'ly fur a shot, knowing well that the mo' Ii of one of these birdß would assist the invalid to regain bis strength. At last the feathered flock came to within fifty yards, when taking a steady aim and firing, t was fortunate p-: in bitting one, which fell on-to its side. Dropping my gun, I ran towards the feathered heap, when it struggled to its feet and made off in the direction of the stream. Datkness was

almost mantling the surroundings, when a few minutes law its woumM wing becoming entangled in (be btiißb, I stooped uml caught the fowl, I arose with a victorious shout, an J at once heard a rush as an antelope dashed through the foliage, which collided with my chest, and knocked ■veral feet to tlio brink of the fcgjjath me rushed the foaming !>h*ria its hoolloug course, engulfed and swept everything More its maddened march, regardless ol results. There was not much time for reflection, nor for the purpose ol getting my lost wind, for a moment ialer, our UIIE FRIEND CAME ISTO VIEW, bobbing along on ibiee legs. Immediately upon seeing me he stopped, as if undecided whether to follow in tho wake of bis intended prey, or made a supper of man, In the second of thought allowed me,l fondly hoped that he would trial ibe antelope, hut as the latter was now out of sijjht, and hearing, the lion rhvo his undivided attention to myself. It is impossible to describe the thoughts which now like lightning Ihslicd through my mind in tho space of tho second or two while in tho presence of the monster. The animal was so close to me that even if I had had my rifle, I do not think I could havo raised the weapon and fired to advantage. Just as the man-eater was gathering himself for a spring, I gave a quick glance at the and look the only available over the cliff, in a moment I was carried away by a roaring current, and was hurled against some hard substance, to which I clung with desperation. Tho waters dashed ms here ami there, and with bleeding limbs I pulled myself from its embrace. I now found myself npon a nnmber of log?, supported by a shaky leaning tree, and then becoming seated, I felt that perhaps 1 had jumped from the frying-pan into the fire. The wetting would probable bring feverand all its terrors upon me, and in very desperation I endeavoured to pierce tho gloom and learn as to tho thereabout: of the monster. He was still upon the cliff, from which I bad slipped, tearing madly at something on the ground. This subsequently proved to be the fowl, After .repeatedly calling, I was successful in making Rogers, who was in tho tent, understand my precarious position, and also as to the proximity of the lion, I then learned that he had been a witness of the manre uvres, and had also seen mo take to the water, Now that he was assured of my temporary safety, he called out, asking if I would like some brandy hot, ot if I could manage a smoke. I could not Bee".t& joke, which was ill-tiraed; but then it was no use taking notice ot bin), as ho was privileged, The rain now fell in torrents, bntlhadone consolation, it could not make me more wet. The quick msHES.OF Licnimso, which wore instantaneously followed by deafening peals of thunder, together with the roaring of the swel 1 - ing water, as it lashed itself to bade fair to outrival tho din cau ji by a 100 stamping battery. It was now too dark to aßcertaiu whether the lion was yot upon the bank, but 1 was soon to ft'arn of his locution, AI that moment, mingliDg with the storm, came the Bharp crack of a rifle, and I waited anxiously for the result. An hour passed, when shivering from tho cold, another report was borne to my ears, and happening during a lull, it reverberated through tho forests like the murmur of distant ' thunder. The water was now rushing over my thighs, while the foam, almost ohoking mo, threatened ever and me from the perch, If I couldJßpicured some brandy, it would at least have kept me warm, and inspired me with some courage. Half an hour thus rolled away, when I heard two, reports, following one upon tho~&tber, with an interval ol some seconds, Was Carey joining it the fray t or had Rogers, after possess ing himself of tha.forraer's rifle, firec both shots, were the thoughts thai flashed through my brain. The re ports had followed far to closely K have permitted ra-loading. My litnbi wore now quite numbed, and standin{ upon the logs knee'deep in water, i endeavoured to climb tho leaning tree but as it cracked under a portion o; my weight, I preferred regaining m; former position to being precipitate! into the flood. In desperation I now looked to thi opposite ahoro for the purpose of ascertaining whether it would be wise U leave my frail foundation and endea vour to reach tho banks, I gaze' long and anxiously, and letting m] eyes rest upon the foaming wte, through which I must pass befon reaching land, I felt at a loss what ti do, WKjfctyokiflg in this directioi I saw T• •

TWO OLE4HING EYES iseao from thotbiokot and stand upon the cliff, which were apparently fixed on me. -1 could cot l&m to what animal these orbs belonged, although a moment later it slid down the incline and peered at me from the water's , edge. Feeling very uncombegan 10 look about, and kooMWe up my mind v?hat course

to pursue should the animal try t como towards me. It stood thus for n moment an then wandered up and down alon| tI)G eiigp, while I turned ray gaze o. the opposite bank, upon which atoo our tent. This liory orbed monster' pioxiroity caused me some alarm for I now realized to the full that was standing on a precarious foun ialion, with a foe on either aide, Th beast was still moving to and - frc tvliiln every few seconds those fierc jyos gazed into my fnee. At this juncture I heard a mis 'rom the teat, and looking up, aa\ ,1)6 galloping forms of our horses which were outlined against the lighl lisnppear in the shrubbery. A fourt! lisclmrge was now wafted to me nil lien another. The monster of th iery-orhs was now running up an Inwn along the edge of the foamtn miront, while his eyes appeared t fitter and dance about in the dark iess like the ends of two brillian ighted cigars. A victorious shou fas now borne to me, and turning otind 1 saw the form of a humar eing outlined agdnat the heavens, fhile the voice of Rogers called, " Where are yon ? " Hero I am," I answered; "in ho middlo of a stream,"

Rogers then told me that lie had killed the lame lion while the latter was chasing the mules, While now drawing his intention to tho animal, across tho stream, I advised him to be careful and not to shoot in my direction. He went along the cliff for about twenty yards, and kneeling down, was in tho act of aiming, when I again called ou', for I felt nervous lest lie should shoot me. Re sang out all right, took aim and Gr<d, Immediately alter the shot the animal commenced tushing up and down, and for tho moment I thought he would come towards me.

Rogers, finding tliat lie hud missed is aim, now laughed and oallsd out, "SEVER MIND, I'LL GET " le was not permitted to end, for a ivageroar cut short the remaining orti'in of his sentence, when aaotlict on dashed into view ana SPBANO TOWABD3 HIM. Tot otio moment did Rogers hesitate', ut as quick as thought, slipped over ito tbo toi'ient, which, like a flash wept him fat away. The lion had ouoded witli such bloodthirsty oracity tkt upon reaching the bank , was unable to stop, and also rolled ver into tho water. Judging from he way in which ibe lion had vainly ried to clutch at the bank, I could sb that it was not at all inclined {or he hath, and I fondly hoped (hat the wnster would drown, But no; in a linutfl I saw him on the cliff about ixty yards along the same side. Looking to the opposite thore, 1 ow noticed that the animal of the cry-orbs had vanished probably ecausc of the presencn of the lion, numbed and cold, I could iave waited without a murmur for the omiug of the dawn if f could have alt easy about the fate of Rogers. ]liis anxiety oppressed me terribly, nil innde the liourathat passed slowly ppear like so many days. Corey, iccoming impatient at our continuod bsence, now began to call, when 1 nswerfd loudly, making him cquainted with the proximity of the ion and of the probable loasof llogors At last the first streak of diw ihed its faint rays over the seme, and hon waiting until sunrise, I began tc est my powers for the swim. That 1 ilionld experience Bome difficulty I vhh fully aware from the fact that mj ower limbs were deadened ami iseless. Gazing for a moment at thi u-hiiig water I then let go my hold vlien, like a flash, I was swept along lome distance before I could gatbei nyself for an effort to regain th< ihore. Not for long, though, for it :be space of a minute I w«s clutchin[ it some roots, which enabled me ti pull myself from the water. Witl jomo difficulty fat last knelt upon thi uliff, when, peering about and seeiuj nothing of the man-eater, I crawlei upon all fours in the direction of th tent, Carey met me at the entrance and, while weakly clasping my hand asked concerning

THE MISSING ROGERS, Having taken a good drink o randy imd changed my wet gar lents, we .now commenced to pt ome life into ray limbs, After a ref f about two hours, having procure iy rille and a plentiful supply ( Tandy, I set out with the hope o. Inding Rogers. My head and limbs ttnro tinw nnliinrr mv OUDQ TOflrP KpflVV. I

nd my cough was very troubhsome, s I wended ray way through the oliage along tho banks of the raging orrent. I kept a very atrio 1 - watoli long ihe edgo of the water while xperlencing a nervona dread as to ho probable fate of obv companion. I ollowed the stream for about half a nile when I heard a cull, coming rom ahead. I hastened my steps, ind found poor Rogers lying in bewcen some rocks, to which, he now old mo ba had crawled after getting >ut of the water, His head, face, and hands were lovered in blood, and what wan even vorae, his leg was broken, He told ne that the current had carried and otced hip form through a number of mags, when a little later, bleeding rom several wounds, he had managed o get beyond the fury of the water, to the preeence of this calamity I orgnt roy paina and coughing, and loured a large quantity of brandy lie ,ween his pallid lips, Finding that le could carry my rifle, T at once littei lis form and ST&6OERED UP THE BAN!

in tbo direction of our borne. An bout Inter 1 reachad the tent just as I Wallace rode into our camp. When mado acquainted with the facta em bracing the iujmiea of Rogers aadthe possibility of fever now being upon myself,the lonely prospector stated tbathe would convey the invalid to' Fort Salisbury, distant about 40 miles, where Dr. Jameson could be found. Wallace now rode out in. search of | horses, and finding them, returned in an hour. He transferred his saddle r to the back of one of our steeds, while ' I lashed a broad ronsh-hewn plank to the back of the other,

Some blankets were now placed on the hoard, \ihen after having his wounds temporarily attended to, Rogers Vfas placed on tho horse. The invalid was then tied in a comfortable position, and Wallace, having mounted hiß steed, now led the animal, carrying the sufferer, in the direction of the capital of Masbonaland. As soon as the trio wero lost to view, I staggered to the tent, tho brandy flask.and the bed, to battle with the terrors of the | demon fever.