The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-04-16

menced to reload. On Hooking up We saw
the two lions together slowly going down
the hill on the other side. rushed for.
ward 20 get another shot before they dis
appeared, but tho cap snapped, and by
the time had another ready the lions
had disappeared among the underground
in the edge Of the wood. We did not
follow them, but We heard them growl-
ing for fifteen minutes. By this time
tho whole camp was in IN uproar, and lit
was finally decided not to pursue the
lions that night, but to take tho trail
early il the morning. $50 49, -.a
s.ssSs vi, SECOND DAYS HUNT. s..
About three hours later the same par
ty that had started after the lions before
now struck the trail again. 1t was not
difficult to follow, for there was, now and
then, blood upon it. It led us up and
around the side If hill, until we came to
the table land between that and another
hill. We went down this for an hour or
more, when the leader, who was = hun
dred yards or more in advance, motioned
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 in 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 under.
stand that we were near the object Of our
search. 1t: was deep, rambling grow1.
We now took our way more cautiously
than before, until we came to a place
where thereTwas an abrupt descent for
about fifty feet. Here the trail struck off
to the right and descended. In looking
down into the narrow valley below us we
saw to the right thicket Of dense under
growth. TWAS from thence the noise
proceeded. The brush was so thick that,
! Notwithstanding the elevation and our
downward view, we could see noth;""-
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
|
was loud growl, and the male lion
LEArED AT ONE BOUND
into the open space at the foot of the de-
clivity. l shall never forget the feelings
Of that moment. The magnificent beast
stood there for second, the very person
ilication of power and rage; his heavy
name stood out like bristles, his eyes
seemed to flash fire, his mouth, widely
distended. emitted roar which caused
the very rocks under US to vibr.te. 1t
was but a second, although it seemed an
age. Nine guns shed 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-sefore him with
his paws, and roared until my nerves
seemed charged with powerful charge
Of electricity, and I could but with diff.
Guilty reload my gun. But suddenly he
darted away to the right. Then the lead.
er cried out for US to
| CLIMB THE TREES,
and everybody ran for a tree and com.
menccd to climb. In my nervousness I
found had left my gun. I ran back to
get it and just as l had reached the tree
and commenced to climb, the lion bound
ed up the hill at the side. He paused for
a moment. was unable to climb.
dropped my gun on the ground and then
dropped myself l caught his eye. Some
body says if you look lion boldly in the
eye he will not harm you. As a
last resort, I tried it on this
one; but he must have been different
kind Of lion, or else my effort was a
very weak one. l saw that he had made
up his mind to eat me, and my look did
not seem to make any appreciablechange
in his line of conduct, so Just stood my
hair all on end, whitened up my face, and
started down the other side of the hill
on 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 midair 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 a
terrible effort. sprang up on his launches
to leap again at his dcstroyers, 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 lion.
ess. Two of the Arabs started down TO
the thicket. A moment later We heard a
couple Of shots and shout Of triumph.
We all Immediately went down, and
found the lioness quite dead, and almost
cold. The Arabs claimed to have killed
her; but I knew, and so did they, that it
was false.
I've 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 max
ing some presents to the Sheih, who was
now recovered, and taking our leave, We
mounted our camels and returned to Ain
| Oussera caravansary.
/