The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-07-09
NEW KIND OF LIONS BAIT.

A NEW KIND OF LIONS BAIT.
/ came back 10 my post where had left
my Two men about midnight, and feeling
very much fatiguej, selected lhick-set tree
by the side of the path, and lay down for a
nap, bidding my saphi keep good watch
until awoke. The Arab stretched himself
out little distance, and-iu few minutes
was snoring like windmill
1t was night of per(ect.beauty. The full
moon poured down flood ofsilver that roll.
ed off the trees, and lay knee-deep on all the
fields OF grain and glossy kuols. Here aud
there cultivated patch of ground showed its
fruitful breast amid the woods, margined with
the stately trees of ages ago. The airsw
warm and fresh, the wind was whist, and no
| sound met the ear, save the murmur of in
secIs in the air, or the humping OF beetles as
their shardy whing came against the white
barked trees. The shadows lay heavily un-
der the foliage where we were stationed,
! though the Arab slept in the full moonshine
that cleaned on his burnous white as snow.
| saw for while around me the pleasant
view dissolving away in the mists OF sleep,
when Iell my arm gently pulled BY my
spahi. slowly raised my head, and follow
ing his eye, saw on the pathway, al about
hundred PAGES from US, two lions sitting
down side by side.
| thought al first that we had been dis.
covered. and was preparing 10 fire away as
best could, but then again | reflected thai
we were in the shadows, psrlly concealed
by the bushes, while the happy native was
lying in the full light of the moon. 1t was
/ evident ii was he they were watching.
forbade my comrade 10 awaken him, per
suaded that he would be proud of his share
in the adventure alter it was over, and care
fully rising 10 my feet, Stood behind The lruhl
oi The tree 10 watch the operation Of the enc
my.
The distance between me and them wa
only hundred yards, and yet they mus
have taken full half hour 10 cross the inter
venng distance. The moon was shinin.
bright on the path, but could only see then
from time 10 time, as they raised their head
10 see if the Arabs rem aimed in the sam,
place. They took advantage of every tull o
grass and every stone 10 conceal their ap
proach, gliding rather than crawling ant
winding like snakes among stones or owe
sucks without The slightest noise.
As The leader had come to within Ten pa
ces OF where | was standing, and 10 withi
fifteen steps of where the Arab was So orng
and his eyes were fixed upon the sleepn
man with such a concentration of desire iha
I-feared had waited too long, and that h
would make his spring before could fire
The other liou,.a few steps further on, place
:. himself abreast of his comrade, and it wa
not unit il then that | saw that both of the an
imals were females, but oil so large a size th a
Their sex was hardly recognizable. Thei
sleallhy motions were feminine, though tn
texture of their skin, their form and their roy
al proportions has completely deceived m
as to their sex. How beautiful they were a
they drew down, like pointer dogs on thei
prey, with every passion OF their souls delh
Gated on their faces!
took aim at the shoulder of the frs, an
fired. The report of The gun and the lou
roar OF the wounded lioness brought th
dreaming Arab with a bound 10 his feei.-
A second ball pierced her heart, and sh
fell dead al the very feet OF the lrighlene
man, who STOOD rooted 10 the spot by terri
bic nightmare.
Without losing any time, changed gun
with my spahi, and looked around for tn
other lioness. She was on her feet al lii
tie distance off, watching with amazemel
} The scene before her. AS took aim a, he
shoulder, she crouched down 10 the grosnd
fired, and she rolled over, badly wounded
as il appeared, and sought safety in corn
/ field that bordered the road. On coming (
the place where she had been standing,
, could bear her multerings in the plantation
: but did not think it was best to follow be
into the land Of shadows at such ON hour
} SO we waited ior daylight, and iher followe
the trail until il left the field, and entered ,h
woods where it was soon lost TO sight. e