The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-08-21

First the head, and then the
supple, tawncy body appeared
from the shrubbery,the tail whisk.
ing fcrociously 10 and fro, the fiery
tongue aud sharp fangs Visible, rs
second roar came booming from
the cavcrnous throat.
"Just Ileavcnw was all the poor
lady could gasp, as with a moth
cr's instinct she snatchcd the child
to her breast.
Mr.. Benton now saw the dan
ger. lilo was unarmed, hut hc
shouted to the men in tho boat,
who, turning, also perceived llel.
cn's peril.
To gain the ships side, to call
for and obtain loaded muskets
was, with the Captain, the work
If but q few moments. Then he
directed the boat ashore. A
sharp report was heard rs one Of
the weapons was discharged, aud,
with \ terrible roar, the lion
turned, slightly wounded, looking
toward the seamen.
Only for u moment, however;
the next it was pursuing Mrs.
Benton, who, with the speed Of
desperation, her child clssped
tightly IN her arms, was fleeing
mp the height.
On she ran, the lion, though
wounded, gaining fast. Now and
then she would turn to behold that
l,deo us head within a few yards
of her, the eyes now resembling
great white circles, With lambent
points oil flame in the center, while
the closed 9th and wrinklcd
nostrils betokcncl that it scented
the blood from the scratches the
little one had received, and which
had aroused to the utmost the
hungry desires OF the savage
beast.
Gasping, painting, wild with
terror and anxiety, tho fugitive
hurried along, scarcely hearing,
far below, the shouts of the rur-
suing seamcn. They could not
help her; they were not near
s'nS"fs 'a4a peTts Ta9 sad Sdd'%sv Ssgld us Us
they could attack the lion.
This Mrs. Benton compre-
hendcd. She saw no way of es.
cape; her only help was III Prov
idenco.
Watching the figures, as he
sped on at the head Of the seamen,
the young missionary almost
screamed in his agony, expecting
every moment to see his wife and
child fall prey to the monster.
The lion now being in line with
the fugitive, tho 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 the latter, in
spite Of her efforts, wac evidently
giving away. Her limbs trembled
beneath her; she swayed from side
to side; her Gaping sobs could bc
heard even by the sailors.
The lion now gained with fear
ful rspidity.
"Great Ileavcnr' cried Mr..
Benton, striking his forehead with
his hand, team nothing be donel"
Already tho lion was within
three yards Of the fugitive.
"Firer" shouted tho missionary.
"There is no other alternativc!"
"Trne," answered the Captain,
as pale as death; "it must be either
the lion or the bullet"
He gave his orders; the mon
took aim and fired. But neither
the beast nor the lady was harmed.
In their fear lest they should hit
the latter, they had aimed too
high.
On went the pursucr and pur-
sued, the li,n now not more than
two yards behind his intended
victims.
Mrs. Benton noticed in advan ce
OF her a cluster Of trees, evidently
growing from cleft in a rock.
A wild hope animated her, and
gave renewed strength. by get
ting behind trees, and dodging,
might she not manage to elnde
the animal until the party from
below should arrivc2
The cluster of trees was now
the coveted goal, and she strained
every nerve to reach II. But
when she was within ten feet oi
II, she saw a deep, yawning
chasm, right in her path, between
her and the trees, aud which had
hitherto bcen hidden from her
Al ~ LII, hcaI,oo g.:.-,.