Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1886 — A Horse Stalked by a Lion. [ARTICLE]

A Horse Stalked by a Lion.

I think it was while on board the vessel that I heard the following interesting story from Captain (now General) Wallington, tyho was himaelf an eyewitness of wh&t took place: Before tire declaration of peace! this gentleman had been ordered to proceed with a body of artillery on a further voyage up the Tigris. Owing to the tremendous force of the current, and the difficulty of always feeling sure aa to the channel suited to an ocean steamer, it was only possible to proceed during the hours of daylight. As the shades of night approached the vessel would be moored in deep water till the morning. ■ Once, while thus at rest during a very dark night, one of the artillery horses, through some accident, fell overboard, and was instantly swept out of sight at a speed that rendered all help to the poor animal out of the question. The first thing in the morning, however, every one was on the lookout to see if he could perchance observe the form of the missing steed, for the country around was fiat and open, and there was no reason to suppose that the animal, if he should be fortunate enough to effect a landing, would wander to any great distance from the bank, where there was certainly plenty Of water, and more fodder than elsewhere. “See!” exclaimed some one, “there he is.” Yes, he was all right, and grazing contentedly on a poor patch of cultivation which -was mixed up in a straggling sort of way with low scrub jungle. “Why,” said another person, “there is a pig following him about.” On this, telescopes and binoculars were brought to bear upon the distant scene, which was nothing more nor less than the horse being stalked by a lion! In vain did the beast of prey use all its cunning to advance, under cover of the bushes, to springing distance. The horse always seemed to know the whereabouts of his enemy, whom he invariably foiled by trotting just at the right moment into the center of another scanty grain field and there grazing, with such feelings as only another horse could describe, for few human beings would think of eating under these circumstances. At last the lion judged the time had come, and with a bound swift as lightning, was seen flying through the air with a force and precision that seemed to mean instant death to its intended victim. But an artillery charger, trained to the arts of war, and armed with iron hoofs, is not so easy to be made mincemeat of. All were delighted to witness the fine defense made by this courageous courser. Lashing out vigorously, he received the lion with BUch “right and left” that the blows could be heard like the sound of a flail by the people on board the steamer. Not only did the monarch of the forest fall crumpled and worsted to the earth, but unable to renew the combat, he slunk back and vanished into the jungle whence he had coine. —Our Indian Station.