The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-27

to he maddened with the pain of his
Injuries. Such roaring as he made,
mortal ears seldom hear. 1t was a
critical moment for me, but, thank
God my nerves were firm, and my
eyes undazzled. To the fullest I real
lied the peril OF my situation, but |
was too old q hunter to be so easily
dashed.
Well, the mighty monster glided
steadily toward me, and, when about
half way up the hill, raised my rifle
and took a steady aim at his shaggy
head. I thought had him sure, but,
you know, ''man proposes and God dis
poses.''
One moment I stopped to make my
self doubly sure. All ready I laid my
finger against the trigger, but just then
a sudden sound stayed my purpose. It
was the cry of a leopard that struck
upon my ear, and the sound came from
right behind me, bursting upon me like
clap of thunder.
dropped the muzzle of my rifle, and
rapidly looked behind me.
sGood God!' cried, with feeling
of alarm which I could not control.
Not twenty feet behind me, crouched
down for a deadly spring-down 80
close that it lay almost fat upon the
ground-with it's fiery, burning, glar-
ing eyes fixed steadily upon me, was a
huge leopard.
There was, between lion and a
leopard, and ask you now could any
mortal man be placed in more des-
perate and perilous situation
"Heaven help me now!'' Imuttered.
Not minute elapsed after I turned
to look back before the ferocious leap.
ard vaulted from the ground, and went
whizzing through the air. The mo-
ment for action restored to me
! measure of my forethought, and I
| jumped backward several PAGES, at the
same time STOPPING down under the
flying monster.
The leopard landed on the very spot
where l had been standing-what
would have been my fate if I had
not moved back, you may guess
and just as his feet touched the ground
the lions head appeared above the
hill, and, almost instantly afterward.
the lion himself.
a roar from one, and a screech from
the other followed and mingled to.
gether. Between the two I seemed to
escape observation, and I tell you l
was mighty thankful for it. looked
OH with bated breath.
Instantaneously the monsters bound
ed at each other, taking the fight
wholly out of my hands. Standing, as
III 1;a %1,nir~ oborun oooI D<I
overturned their balance. and they
rolled over and over down the hill,
ripping and tearing, and screaming
and roaring like very devils.
ran to the edge, and, looking over,
watched them. That was my time to
escape, you will say, but l was fasci-
mated by the sight of two such dread
full monsters engaged in battle array,
and almost forgot my own imminent
danger.
At the bottom of the hill the battle
was renewed with three-fold fury, and
for long time the denouement seemed
uncertain. l could have shot either,
but that would have left me exposed
| to the attack of the survivor. Besides,
I really wanted to see the monsters
| fight it out, and felt pretty sure that
they would demolish one another in
the long run.
Lying fiat on my stomach, with my
| head just over the brow Of the hill, /
| watched the sanguinary battle below.
| With eager interest noticed every
phase Of the unusual conflict.
At length the leopard stretched him.
self upon the ground, and uttered a
loud and wailing cry. Standing over
the twitching and kicking animal, the
conquering lion proudly threw his
head aloft, and uttered roar of tri-
umph.
At that moment his eyes fell on me,
and the CORY, unsated animal again
darted up the hill. Once more | lev
eled my rifle, and this time nothing
occurred to mar my purpose. I fired
and struck the brute between the
eyes. Weak and wounded as he was,
that was almost too much for him
with a cry of pain he tottered and
nearly fell backward down to the bot.
tom. By a mighty effort recovering
himself, however, he chung to the side
of the hill, and struggled fercely to
MAINTAIN his footing. [ felt no pity
for the monster, however-could not
be expected to feel any.
A large stone, just as much as l
could lift, happening to be lying loose
at my feet, picked it up, and with
all my force cast it at my enemy. The
heavy stone struck the dying beast in
the head finishing his career. With a
last roar he rolled over and over down
the hill.
Shortly after was rejoined by my
native guides, but it was quite while