The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-03-11

was, now and then, blood upon 1t. 1t
led us up and around the side of the
hill, until we came TO the tableland be-
tween that and another hill. We went
down this for an hour Or more, when
the leader, who was hundred yards
or more in advance of us, motioned us
to stop. He rode back to us, spoke
something in Arabic to those in ad-
vance of us, when he left his horse and
went ahead on foot. We all then dis
mounted, left the horses in charge of
three men, and followed, at some dis
trnce in the rear of the leader in per-
feet silence. In a few minutes we be-
gan to hear Il noise, which at once
gave us to understand we were near
the object of our search. 1t was a deep,
rumbling grewl. We now took our
way more cautiously than before, un-
til we came to place where there was
an abrupt descent of about fifty feet,
Here the trail struck off to the right
and descended. In looking down in
to the narrow valley below us we saw
to tho right thicket of dense under
growth. 1t was from thence the noise
proceeded. The brush was SO thick
that, notwithstanding tho elevation
and our downward view, We could see
nothing. The spot whero he halted
was covered with fair-sized trees,
mostly white oaks. We Immediately
placed ourselves at the brink, side by
side, with our guns ready. Thus far
we had made no noise, but one of tho
Arabs, in getting into his position, had
slipped and let his gun fall agsist some
rocks. Immediately there was loud
growl, and the male lion leaped at one
bound into the open space at the foot
of the declivity. 1 shall never forget
the feelings of that moment. The
magnificent beast stood there for a
second, the very personification of
power and rage-his heavy name stood
out like bristles, his eyes seemed to
fash fire, his mouth, widely distended,
emitted q roar which caused the very
rock under us to vibrate. 1t was but
second, although it seemed an age.
Nine guns flashed before him; but
their leaden hail seemed only to add
fuel to his rage, and not to weaken
him. We were too high for him to
reach us. In his rage he tore tho
earth with his paws, and roared until
my nerves seemed charged with a pow
erful current of electricity land could
but with difficulty reload my gun. But
suddenly he darted away to the right.
Then the leader cried out for US to
climb the trees, and everybody ran for
a tree and commenced to climb. In
my nervousness found 1 had left
my gun. ran back to get it, and
just as had reached the tree and COM
menced to climb, the lion bounded up
the hill atthe side. He paused for a
was unable to climb. /
dropped nay gun. on the ground and
then dLopped myself. 1 caught his
eye. Somebody says if you look
lion boldly in the eye he won't hurt
you. AS last resort tried this one,
but he must have been different kind
of lion, or else my effort was very
weak one. l saw that he had made up
his mind to eat me, and my look did
not seem to make any appreciable
change in his line of conduct, so L just
set my hair all on end, whitened up
my face, and started down the other
side of the hill on a little sweepstakes
Of my own. But it was unnecessary,
for at that moment the men in the
trees opened on the lion and one ball
went through his heart and he fell
from mid air with gigantic bound
but half completed. The men jumped
down and rushed toward him, but
they stopped very suddenly, for the
old king of beasts, royal in death as
in life, by terrible effort, sprans up
to his launches to leap again at his
des,royers, when death seized him and
he fell short of his mark. Our reJoicings
were cut short by somebody raising
the question of the whereabouts of the
lioness. Two of the Arabs started
down to the thicket. A moment la
ter we heard couple of shots and a
shout of triumph. We allimmediate
ly went down and found the lioness
quite dead, and almost cold. The
Arabs claimed to have killed her; but
l knew and so did they, that it was
false,
Two men were left in charge of the
bodies, and the remainder returned to
camp. In the general rejoicings that
night, after the lions had been brought
in, though often invited, Antoine and
took no part. But in the morning,
after making some presents to the
Sheik, who was now recovered, and
taking our leave, we mounted our
camels and returned to Ain Oussera
caravansary, ..., ,....s..,. ..... ....... g..
Fun FOR YOUNG FoLKs.-Here's
new parlor game: Two players are
closely blinded with bandage made