Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-19
A MOTHER,S STRATAGEM.

Az y On0S AOOV1 suo eASY W 00Vo1Vg AolS
tho settlement Of Monrovia, ON tho coast
of Liboria, in Africa, having on board,
among her passengers, bound home to
England, Mr.. Benton, q young missionary,
and his beautiful wife Helen, with their
child-a little girl Q years old.
For three weeks the vessel encountered
q 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.
It was beautiful spot, but few hundred
yards from one of the half detached peaks
Of the Atlas mountains.
Gazing inland, the passengers beheld
wealth Of verdure, with tall trees and
climbing plants, and flowers Of variegated
hue, many Of the later ascending to the
tops Of tho rocky hills, and hanging down
in long, graceful festoons over tho valleys
between.
In tho afternoon, the gale having abated,
the Captain lowered. . boat TO make
soundings in the bay.
II would 10 like to take little Clara
ashore" said Helen to her husband.
" You know she has been teasing us ali
day long for some of those pretty flowers"
"very we'll; il tho Captain will take
the trouble to put us ashore, we will Co."
said Benton.
The Captain having readily given his
consent, the two passengers were soon
landed on tho beach.
" Don't 60 too far away, sir" said the
skipper, as be showed of again.
But little Clara: breaking from her
parents, now run up one of lhe lofty rocky
elevations, the sides of which wore cover.
ed with shrubbery Of the most attractive
color.
"Wait for me, George" said Helen to
her husband, and | will bring her back" !"
The height tho child was ascending to
being very steep, she had proceeded about
. hundred yards ere her mother overto ok
her. The naked arms and shoulders of
tho little one were by this time scratched
in several places from contact with the
briers. Mrs. Benton, therefore, dipped
her handkerchief in u spring triokfin:
down rock, was about applying it to the
bleeding parts, when she was suddenly
startled by roar, deep and prolonged,
like rumbling thunder, apparently emery.
ing from the very heart Of the mountain,
and shaking it to its center!
Terrified she turned, to behold an awful
spectacle-the huge, bristling head and
round, gl"ring Dyes Of that most dreadful
of wild beasts-an African lion!
First the head, and then the supple,
tawny body, appeared from the shrub6ery,
the tail whisking furiously to and fro, the
fiery tongue and sharp faDgs visible, az q
second roar came booming from tho cav
ernous throat.
~Just Heaven!" was all The poor lady
could gasp, ~, with q mothers instinct, t,she
snetched the child to her breast.
Mr.. Benton now saw her danger. He
was unarmed, but he shouted to tho men
in the boat, who, turning, also perceived
helsn's peril.
To gain the ships side, to call for and
obtain loaded muekets, was, with the Cap.
tain tho work Of few minutes. Then he
directed the boat ashore. A cracking
report was heard az orc of the weapons
was discharged, and, with u terrible roar,
the lion turned, slightly wounded, looking
toward the seamen.
Only tor moment, however; tho next,
away he went in pursuit of Mrs. Benton,
who with the speed Of desperation. her
child clasped tightly in her arms,was foe.
ing up the height.
On she ran, the lion, though wounded,
gaining fast. Now and then she would
turn to behold that hideous head within
q few yards for her, the eyes now retemb.
ling great white circles with lambert
points Of fame in the center, while the
closed teeth and wrinkled nostrils betoken.
cd that it scented tho blood from the
scratches the little one had received, and
which had reused to the utmost the hun
cry desires of the savage beast.
Gasping, painting, wild with terror and
anxiety, the fugitive hurried along, scarce.
ly hearing,3far below, tho shouts Of the
pursuing seamen. They could not helr
her-they were not near enough. The
victims would be torn to pieces and de.
voured long ere they could attack the
lion.
This Mrs. Benton comprohended. She
saw no way Of escape-her only help was
IN Providence.
Watching tho figures, a. he sped on at
the head OF the seamen, the vounr n,;s.
sionary almost screamed in his great
agony, expecting every moment IL see ~.
wife and child fall prev to the monster ~ ar
The lion now being in q line with tha
fugitive, the muakcts were useless in The
hands Of the sailors who would not fire. M Mt
the animal Tor fear of hitting Mrs. Benton
The strength Of the latter, in spite Of her
efforts, was evidently giving way. Her
limbs trembled under her-she swayed
from side to side-her gasping sobs could
be heard even by the sailors.
The savage pursuer now gained with
frightful rapidly.
"Great Heaven :" screamed Mr.. Ben.
ton, striking h.s forehead with his hand.
"can nothing be done ~
Already the lion was within three Yards
of the fugitive.
"Fire!' shouted the missionary. VI give
you leave. There il no other alternative. y
True," answered the Captain, a. pale