Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-11-21

y
ony, expecting every moment to see his
wife and child fall prey to the monster.
The lion now being in line with the fu-
gitive, 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 the latter, in spite Of
\ her efforts, was evidently giving way
Her limbs trembed under her--she
4 swaycd from side to side--and her gasp
ing sobs could be heard even by tho
sailors.
The savage pursuer now gained with
fearful rapidity
Great heavens p screamed Mr. Ben
ton, striking his forehead with his hard,
scan nothing be done r
. Fire p shouted the missionary,
/ give you leave. There is no other alter
native"
True" answered the captain, as pale
as death; 1T must be either the lion or
the bullet"
He gave his orders; the men took aim
/ and fired. Bot neither the beast nor the
lady was harmed In their fear lest they
should hit the latter, the marksmen had
aimed too high.
On went the pursuer and pursued, the
lion not more than two yards behind his
intended victims.
Mrs Benton saw ahead a clump of
slender trees, evidently growing from
cleft in the rock. A wild hope anima-
ted her, and gave renewed strength to
her faltering limbs. BY getting behind
the trees and lodging, might she not
contrive to elude the animal until the
party from below should arrive?
The cluster of trees was now the COW
eted goal, and she strained every nerve
to reach it. But when she was within
ten feet of it, she met with u fearful dis
appointmcnt-a deep, yawning chasm,
right in her path between her and the
trees, and which had hitherto been hid
den from her sight by high bushes frin-
ging the edge.
The chasln was too wide to leap over.
She turned and stood at bay back
to the abyss and her face toward the
lion. There seemed no hope now
| Death was before and behind her, hem
ming her on both sides.
The lion paused as she turned toward
him. He uttered giowl 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
torn by that savage monster There was
no time to lose In another moment the
tawny body must come swooping down
upon her
But now quick, wild thought--a
mothers inspiration flashed through
her brain. Under the armpits she clasped
the child with each hand, and raised it
high above her head, SO that the bleed
ing scratches on its white flesh were full
Is exposed to the lions view
That sight reused to tie full the nm
comfortable desires Of the savage beast.
With a smoihered roar be shot up from
the rock, his huge form cleaviug the air.
with one tremendous bound for the child
That was what Mrs. Benton had wait
ed for. BY elcvating her child she had
compelled the lion to take lofty leap
and now with her little one she quickly
sank fiat or the rock, thus Guiding the
monster, which, uttering one long, wild
terrible roar, was carried head foremost
out of sight forevermore, into the fright.
full depths Of the cbasm
Nearly scnseless from the 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 mothers peril and
timely stratagem.