San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-02
A Lion Story.
remple Bar.
"You see that corn moving 81
Anf aA,...co n In


"Well, that is the tail of tbo l.
beating the ears" WIZ non
We wisely halted to learn tho
my's intentions, when with income enc
hendsible stupidity, one of the pte'
shouhered his rifle and shot Il o Msaos
the direction of the lion. Even ; Td IN
rifle had been a Devismes or n 7 an saA'
unless the Arab had hit the lion TSe'
tween the eyes, the only result WE ge'
wounding and exciting the lion 80 M NUE.
consequences had not long to be ,v cue
ed for. The lion instantly bsa m.'
bounding forward in fearful str;s san
and our courage being equal TO tbs -
casion, we climbed up the nearest t,o W,
as quickly as we could, Considers
discretion the better part of valos
But the lion had seen us and be ~
preached like steam engine. Az is,o
would have it, he looked around ons
chose the the tree on which 1 sat with
two Zouaves, roaring tremendousir
and wildly beating the air with his
tail.
Hethen went few steps back, nev.
er for one moment losing sight Of Ms
and with o sudden bound jumped 81
the tree and tore big bit of barI
and wood out and shook us in tba
branches like grapes. The second time
he tried the same experiment with
rage grand to behold; but after the
third time failing to break the trunk
which fortunately was very solid one
or to make it make fall down, he began
first in q large circle, then gradually
in narrow ones to pass around the tree
his tail always in the air ready to strike
He never for moment turned his eyes
away from the inhabitants of the leafy
roof. l confess that L did not feel
comfortable, and if any one tells
you he met lion and felt perfectly
calm and composed, take his narration
cum gra1ao sails. know that Jules
Gerard who killed eight and twenty
lions, and who made that sort of thing
his profession, once, only once in life,
after waiting whole night for, a lion
suddenly heard some wood cracking
behind him, land turning around beheld
the head of the beast. Then he said
81 looked at him and he looked OF me
for what I fancy was full minute
but may have been half-minute, or
less, and when 1 thought the comedy
had lasted quite long enough, bringing
my rifle into position, I let the whole
courtesy"Cthis was his expression "into
the lions eye, and have no doubt
that one second later it would have
been-too Late"
Anyhow we felt curious sensation
with this monster so near and seeming
ly so determined to wait any length Of
time, for he looked up at us with the
clearest possible expression, as much
as to say you come downyou towards,
and let us have fair fight; we will
soon see who will get the best of it,
And he continued slowly walking
around the tree, watching us as if to
espy every movement of ours. at last
he marched so slowly and so near, al
ways holding up his proud, majestic
head, that I said to my comrades: 1--WE
have six good shots. The next time
he comes within range I shall slowly
take aim and fire; if I miss him, do not
be rash, wait your chance,-one OF us
must kill him." When he neared me
took aim slowly and cautiously
knowing the danger if l failed. one
second more-the ball went straight
into the corner of his eye and he tell'
Now was the question, was he dead, OF
did he, as they often do, pretend anu
lie motionless? The blood, however,
flowed freely and he seemed not to nave
any life, when one of the Zouaves ssla;
"Si monsieur me dome cent francs(t4g1
ie descends ct je lui dome son reSte.
I said; ct will give you the Smoua'
with pleasure, but [ do not wish you TO
risk your life for paltry sum, because
if he is not quite dead, you are deaa
the moment you come near him. "en'
the man thought he would FISK IL, DC.
ing of the opinion that the beast was
QGdu. he uGSCSIuCu, LID
his arm and his finger on the trigger
but he as with the utmost caution,
neared the lion, a violent, spaSsmoa!tI
stroke with the tail made us fear II
was over with the man. At this CRU,
cal moment he let the whole charge9
at the lions ear and fortunately kllleu
him. Then, of course, we all came
down, and now the Arabs began III
sulting him: "You robber, you IniJ,,
you stole my sheep; you dlShohea@ "tc
brigand, you murdered my lamp, g 5o
do not know whether the lion ~
spised calumny, Eut he repllea. nJ bIa
ing, which seems the most practlc~O.U.
means of silencing gossiping tongues p;sb
and after cutting his head Oh, WIN
was borne into the village in TRIUMPH
this exciting event was oye'
Trrr- RoctoT Courier pIyeS Iuo 10