The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1873-06-19

which had reused TO the utmost the
hungry desires Of the savage beast.
Gssping, painting, wild with terror
and anxiety, the fugitive hurried
along, scarcely hearing, far below,
the shouts Of the pursuing seamen.
They could not help hei-they we're
not near enough. The victims
would be torn TO pieces and devour-
ed long ere they could attack the
lion.
This Mrs. Benton comprehended.
She saw no way Of escape--her only
help was in Providence.
Watching tho figures, as she sped
on at the head OF the seamen, the
young missionary almost screamed
in his great agony, expecting every
moment TO see his wife and child fall
prey TO the monster. The lion now
being in line with the fugitive, the
muskets were useless in the hands OF
the sailors, who would not fire at
the animal for fear of hitting Mrs.
Benton.
The strength of tho latter, in spite
Of her efforts, was evidently giving
way. Her limbs trembled under her
she swayed from side 10 side-her
gasping sobs could be heard even by
the sailors.
The savage pursuor now gained
with fearful rapidity.
"Great Heavenl" screamed Mr..
Benton, striking his forehead with
his hand, "can nothing be donef
Already the lion was within three
yards Of the fugitive.
Fire y shouted the missionary.
81 give You leave. There is no other
alternative"
"True,' answered the captain, as
pale as death "it must be either the
lion or the bullet"
He gave his orders; tho men took
aim, and fired. But neither the beast
nor the lady was harmed. In their
fear lest they should hit the latter,
the marksmen had aimed to high.
On went the pursuer and pursued,
the lion now not more than two
yards behind his intended victims.
Mrs. Benton saw ahead q clump OF
slender trees, evidently, growing
from o cleft in the rock. A wild
hope animated her, gave her renew
ed strength to her faltering limbs
BY getting behind trees, and dodg-
ing, might she not contrive to elude
the animal until the party from be-
low should arrive
The cluster OF trees was now the
coveted goal, and she strained every,
nerve to reach it. But when she
was within ten feet Of it, she met with
u fearful disappointment--a deep,
yawning chasm, right in her path,
between her and the trees, and
which had hitherto been hidden
frsm her sight by high bushes firing
ing the edge
The chasm was too wide to leep
over. She turned, and then stood
at bay-her back to tho abyss, her
face toward the lion. There seem
cd no hope now. Death was before
and behind her, hemming her in on
both sides.
The lion paused as she turned to-
ward him. lie uttered q growl OF
triumph, and crouched for the fatal
spring.
The lady strained her child closer
to her breast. TO descend the dark
depths of the chasm was preferable
TO being tore by that savage monster.
There was no time to lose. In anoth-
or moment the tawny body must
come swooping down upon her.
But now a quick wild thought-a
mothers inspiration-Aashed thro'
her mind. Under the arnlpits she
clasped the child with each hand,
and raised il high above her head, so
that che bleeding scratches on its
white flesh were fully exposed to the
lions view.
That sight reused 10 the full the
uncomfortable desires OF the savage
beast. With o smothered roar, he
shot up from che rock, his huge form
cleaving che air with one tremend-
ous bound for the child
Thai was what Mrs. Benton had
waited for. By elevating her child,
she had compelled che lion TO take o
lofty leap and now, with her lttle
one, she quickly sank Aas ON the rock,
thus eluding the monster which Ut
tering one long, wild, terrible roar
was carried head foremost, out OF
sight for evermore, into the frightful
depths Of the chasm.
Nearly senseless from fatigue and
excitement she had undergone, Mrs.
Benton was soon after conveyed to
the ship by her rejoicing friends,
who next day left far behind them
the place Of that exciting scene of q
mothers peril and timely statagem.