Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-08-15

self into large knot upon the limb
distinctly heard his blood dropping uro,
the leaves near my feet l thought ha,
done the business for him, but was mista
taken, for in moment. kissing in anger
he uncolled himself and again advanced
along the branch
! My companion bad left his fowlins
piece pear where [ stood, and / seized il
and fred second time but without eff
feet. He reached the end of the limb
which, though running horizontally, was
a continuance of the main body of the
tree, and having been broken near the
shell, was strong enough to bear his
weight and bend very little Here with
his head fattened and his arched and
swollen crest growing like fire, he pre-
| pared to spring upon his prize The blood
streamed from the wound in his neck. and
/ f1owlng down crimsoned the bright scales.
but he seemed to be but very little in
jured. His burning and dilating eyes
were fixed intently upon the native, and
his red forked tongue darted like an in
cessant flame from his mouth The man
was prepared for him-the keen knife gilt
tered in his hand-but his situation was
terrible one
At this moment dark shadow fell up
on him He looked UP and in amazement
beheld lion of great size standing upon
the brink of the opening, some ten feet
above him, with bis eyes fixed on the 9th
er side, and evidently intending to cross.
A hiss from below caught his ear, and
dropping his head quickly between his
legs, he lifted his name, and with loud
roar sprang fercely at the native, who
avoided him by shrinking close to the
rock. and as he came within reach on the
shelf, be plunged the knife into his side
AS the lion recovered his leap aud turned
upon his foe, | saw two or three coils fy
frors the limb like rings of fire, aud in an
instant one of them was round the shag
gy neck of the lordly beast and the fangs
of the serpent were fastened just above
his eyes. He was dragged struggling
from the shelf, and the serpent retaining
his hold upon the limb, they swung heav-
lily against the body of the tree. The
joints of the serpent stretched to its ut
most tension, and the limb bent and
cracked with the weightit sustained, but
he firmly kept hold. and drew the cord
about the neck of the struggling lion as
tight as hangman's knot But the
mighty beast was not thus to be overcome
With one of his strong paws be grasped
the snake above the head. and turning
seized that part in his mouth. crushing
bones and flesh, grinding his teeth in fu-
ry when they met The cords upon the
limb relaxed. and they fell heavily to
the ground, fighting in a heap, and whirl
ing the dry leaves up in cloud with their
fiery energy.
1 run up the path which the native had
selected before. and was soon joined by
him. With little difficulty we reached
the top of the opening, and turned to look
at the strange battle below But it was
over The huge serpent lay bloody and
motionless at the foot of the tree, and the
victorious lion disappeared among the
bushes in the direction of the assure. He
had received some severe wounds, and
doubt not his bones ached from the great
stress of the serpent's folds.
This extraordinary occurrence did not
prevent US from reaching the summit of
the mountain, and gazing in wonder and
delight over the vast and beautiful coun-
try. It was the most exciting scene |
ever witnessed. and I then believed that
al! Hindostan could not produce another
escape from fearful death so mary elous as
that of my companion.