The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-07-10
N1scEIAANgg:
AMoTHER,s srRArAaEn1.

the settlement of Monrovia, on the coast
OF Liberia, in Africa, having on board
among her passengers, bound home tc
England, Mr.. Benton, young missiona
ry, and his beautiful wife Helen, with
their child-a little girl three years old.
For three weeks the vessel encountered
succession of head winds and violent
squalls, which, driving her toward land
at length compelled her captain to anchor
in small bay on the coast of Morocco
1t was beautiful spot, but few hundred
yards from one of the half-detached peaks
of the Atlas mountains.
Gazing inland, the passengers beheld g
wealth OF verdure, with tall trees and
climbing plants, and flowers of variegated
hue, many of the latter ascending to the
tops of the rocky hills, and hanging dowr
IN long, graceful festoons over the valleys
between.
In the afternoon, > the gale having abated
the captain lowered boat to make sound.
ings in the bay.
81 would so like TO take little Glars
ashore" said Helen to her husband
'You know she has been teasing US all
day long for some of those pretty flow.
ers."
Every well; if the Captain will take
the trouble to put US ashore, we will go,
said Benton.
The Captain having readily given his
consent, the two passengers were sooI
landed on the beach.
Don't go too far away, sir" said the
skipper, as he showed off again
But little Clara, breaking from her pa
rents, now ran up one of the lofty rocky
elevations, the sides of which were Gov.
cred with shrubbery of the most attrac-
tive color
await for me, George" said Helen tc
her husband, land I will bring hel
back"
The height the child was ascending t.
being very steep, she had proceeded about
hundred yards ere her mother overlook
her. The naked arms and shoulders ol
the little one were by this time scratched
in several places from contact with the
briers. Mrs Benton, therefore, dipping
her handkerchief IN a spring trickling
down q rock, was about applying it to the
bleeding parts, when she was suddenly
startled by a roar, deep and prolonged
like rumbling thunder, apparently emerg-
ing from the very heart of the mountain
and shaking it to its center.
spectacle-the huge, bristling head and
round, glaring eyes of that most dreadful
of wild beasts-an African lion
First the head, and then the supple,
tawny body, appeared from the shrub
berry, the tail whisking furiously to and
fro, the fiery tongue and sharp fangs yisi-
BILE, as a second roar came booming from
the cavernOus throat.
Z II ~ L J
could gasp, as with mothers instinct she
snatched the child to her breast.
Mr.. Benton now saw the danger. He
was unarmed, but he shouted TO the men
in the boat; who, turning, also perceived
Helen's peril.
To gain the ships side, to call for and
obtain loaded muskets, was, with the Cap
tain. the work of few minutes. Then
he diricted the boat ashore. A cracking
report was heard as one of the weapons
was discharged, and, with terrible roar
the lion turned, slightly wounded, look
ing toward the seamen.
Only for moment, however the next
away he went In pursuit of Mrs. Benton
who, with theI speed of desperation, hel
child clasped tightly in her arms, was
fleeing up the height.
On she ran, the lion, though wounded
gaining fast. Now ana then she woulC
turn to behold that hideous head within
few yards of her, the eyes now resem
bling great white circles, with lambert
points of flame in the center, while the
closed teeth and wrinkled nostrils beto
kened thatit scented the blood from tn,
scratches the little one had received, anC
which had reused to the utmost the hun
cry desires of the savage beast.
Gasping, painting, wild with terror anC
anxiety, the fugitive hurried along, scarce
ly hearing, far below, the shouts of thr
pursuing seament. They could not hell
her-they were not near enough. Tn
victims would be torn to pieces and de
voured long ere they could attack tn
lion.
This Mrs. Benton comprehended Sh
saw no way of escape-Rer only help wa
in Providence.
Watching the figures, as he sped on a
1 the head of the seamen, the young mis-
sionary almost screamed in his great ago
ny, expecting every moment to see hi
wife and child fall prey to the monster
The hoR now being IN line with the tu
! gitive, the muskets were useless in tn
hands of the sailors, who would not fir
at the animal for fear of hitting Mr.
Benton.
The strength of the latter, in spite {
her efforts, was evidently giving way
Her limbs trembled under her-she sway
ed from side to side-her gasping sob
could be heard even by the sailors.
The savage pursuer now gained wit
fearful rapidity.
"Great Heaven |" screamed Mr.. Bentol
striking his forehead with his hand, "ca
nothing be done 2"
Already the lion was within three yarC
Of the fugitive.
"Fue /" shouted the missionary.
give you leave. There is no othe attire
native"
''True," answered the Captain as pa
: as death cit must be either the lion {
the bullet"
He gave his orders; the men took air
and fired. But neither the beast nor Il
lady was harmed. In their fear lest the
should hit the latter, the marksmen hs
aimed too high.
, On went the pursuer and pursued, Il
) lion now not more than two yards behiI
t his intended victims.
L liz