The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-09-15
''You see that corn moying?,
stOf course I do.r

''Of course I do.''
well, that is the tail of the lio
beating the ears
We wisely halted to learn the enemy
Intentions, when with incomprebensibl
stupidity, one of the Arabs shoulders
his rifle and shot it off in the directio,
OF the lion. Even If that rifle had beef
a Deyismes or . Lepage, unless tn
Arab had hit the lion between the ewes
the only result was the wounding ant
exciting the lion. The consequence
had not long to be waited for. Tn,
lion instantly began bounding forward
in fearful strides, and our courage be
ing equal to the occasion, we climbed
up the nearest trees as quickly as we
could. considering discretion the latter
part OF valor. But the lion had seer
us, and he approached like steam
engine. As fate would have il, he
looked round and chose the tree on
which l sat with two Zouaves, roaring
tremendously, and wildly beating the
air with his tail.
He then went few steps back. never
for one moment losing sight of us, and
with a sudden bound jumped at the
tree and tore big bit of bark and
WOOD out and shook us in the branches
like grapes. A second time he tried the
same experiment with a rage grand to
behold; but after the third time, failing
TO break the trunk, which fortunately
was very solid one, or to make us fail
down, he began, first in large circle.
then gradually in narrower ones. To
pace round the tree, his tail ALWAYS in
the air ready to strike. He never for a
moment turned his eye away from the
inhabitants of the leafy roof. confess
here, that l did not feel comfortable.
and If any one tells you he met a lion
and he was perfectly calm and com.
posed, take his narration cup, orano
sails. know that Jules Gerard who
Killed eight-and-twenty lions, and who
made that sort of thing his profession,
once, only once in his life. after hay.
ing waited whole night for lion, sud-
denly heard some wood cracking be.
hind him, and turning round, beheld
the head of the beast. Then he said.
II looked at him and he looked at me
ior whatl fancy was full minute, but
may have been half minute or less
and when | thought the comedy had
lasted quite long enough. bringing INV
rifle into position, let the whole cour.
tesy this was his expression) s.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 seemingly
so determined to wait any length Of |
Tune, for he looked up at us with the
ciearest possible expression, as much as |
10 say: "You just come down, YOU
towards, and let us have fair figbt: |
we VIII soon see who will get the best
OF It, And he continued slowly walk /
ing round the tree, watching us as if to
espy every movement of ours. At last |
ne marched so slowly and SO near. always
holding up his proud, majestic head.
mat said to my comades: 1--WE have
SIX good shots. The next time he comes
within my range shall slowly take aim
md fire; If miss him, do not be rash
wait your chance-one of us must xiii
Tim" When he neared me took aim
,,iowiy and cautiously. knowing the
LANCER II L failed. One second more
pressed the trigger, the ball went
tralght IN at the corner of his eye and
'e fell. Now was the question: Was
he dead or did he, as they often do.
'retend and lie motionless? The blood.
however, flowed freely and he seemed
lot TO have any life, when one of the
'ouaves said: Isl monsieur me donpe
ent francs (f4). je descends ct JIG lui
onne son reste." / said: will give
GU the amount with pleasure, but do
ot wish you to risk your life for a
altry sum, because if he is not quite
cad, you are dead the moment Won
ONE near him." Well, the man
iought he would risk it, being of opin-
m the beast was dead. He descended.
is rifle under his arm, his finger on the
Tiger, but as he with the utmost can
on neared the lion, violent. spas- ,
lodic stroke with the tail made MS fear
lat 1t was all over with the man. At !
lis critical moment he let the whole ,
large in at the lions ear and fortu- + I
stcly killed il. Then of course we all
me down. and now the Arabs began I
sulting him: "You robber, you thief. |
~ stole my sheep; you dishonorable :
igand. you murdered my lamb" etc, /
c. Il don't know whether the lion de- \
ised caiumny, but he replied nothing, t
hich seems the most practicable means t
silencing gossiping tongues, and .
ter cutting his head of, which was {
rne in triumph into the village, this f
citing event was over. Temple Bar, r
y,