The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-11

us to stop. He rode back to US, spoke
something in Arabic to those in advance
of us, when he left his horse and went
ahead on foot. We all then dismounted,
left the horses il: charge Of three of the
men, and followed at some distance in the
rear Of the leader in perfect silence. In .
few minutes we began to hear
q noise, which at once gave us
to understand that we were near
the object of our search. It was deep,
rum bling growl. We now took our way
more cautiously than before, until we
came to a place where there was an
abrupt descent for about fifty feet. Here
the trail struck off to the right and de-.
scended. In looking down into the mar
row valley below us we saw to the right
thicket Of dense underground. It was
from thence the noise proceeded. The
brush was SO thick that, Notwithstanding
the elevation and our downward view, we
could see nothing. The spot where we
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 the Arabs,
in getting into his position, had slipped
and let his gun fall among 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.
I shall never forget the feelings of that
moment. The magnificent beast stood
there for second, the very personifica-
ton Of power and rage-his name stood
out like bristles, his eyes seemed to fash
fire, his mouth, widely distended. emitted
roar which caused the very rock under
us to vibrate. II was but a second, al.
though 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
the earth before him with his paws, and
roared until my nerves seemed charged
with powerful current of electricity,
and ! could but with difficulty reload my
gun. But suddenly he dartcd away
to the right. Then the leader
cried out for us to climb the trees
and every body ran for tree and com
menced to climb. In my nervousness
found had left my gun. I ran back tc
get it, and just as I had reached the tree
and commenced to climb. the lion bound
ed up the hill at the side. He paused
for moment. was unable to climb
I dropped my gun on the ground and
then dropped myself l caught his eye
Somebody says if you look lion boldly
in the eye he won't harm you. As {
last resort tried it on this one; but h
must have been different kind of q lion
or else my effort was very weak one
saw that he had made up his mind t.
eat me; and my look did not seem Z
make any appreciablc change in his line
Of conduct, so just set my hair all OF
end, whitened up my face, and started
down the other side of the hill on it'll
sweepstake Of my own. But it was un
necessary, for at that moment the mel
in the trees opened on the lion, and h
fell from mid-air with gigantic boun.
but half completed. The men jumped
down and ran towards him, but the,
stopped very suddenly, for the old kim
Of beasts, royal in death as in life, by ;
terrible effort sprang upon his haunchc
to leap again at his destroyers. whel
death seized him. and he fell short Of hi
mark.
Our rejoicings were cut short ty some
body raising tbs question Of the where
abouts Of the lioncss. Two Of the Arab
started down to the thicket. A momen
later we heard couple Of shots and
shout Of triumph. We all immediatel
went down and found the lioness quit
dead, and almost cold! The Arab
claimed to have killed her; but knew
and so did they, that it was false.
Two men were left in charge Of tn
bodies, and the remainder returned
|; camp. In the general rejoicings tia
night, after the lions had been brought il
though often invited, Antoine and | too
no part. But in the morning, after NAL
ing some presents to the Sheik, who wa
now recovered, and taking our leave, v
mounted our camels and returned to Al
Ousseaa caravansary.
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