The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-06-21


quick as a rabbit, and stormed at him
from inside.
"Ihrusting his great paw right down
the hole. the lion tried to claw him out
! Oh, how trembled for Cognac!
But he kept up such a ceaseless fire
of SWAPPING and snarling that it was
plain he was either we'll round corner
or that the hole was deep enough for his
safety.
can the same to see the great cowardly
beast digging away at my poor little dog
like that was more than l could stand.
Cooking nv pistol, shouted, and as
looked up I fred at his blood shot eye.
He shook his head. and 1 gave him the
other barrel.
with a scream of rage he bounded
back.
"Cognac Immediately shot forth his
head and insulted him with ieering
banks.
"But he was not to be drawn again,
and after bit he lay down further Off
and pretended to go to sleep. Cognac
barked at him till he was tired, and then
retired into his castle.
"Rsloading, I found had only three
bullets left, and concluded to hold them
for crisis.
at was now past noon. To beguile
the time, l smoked pipe or two, sang
song, and cut my pame, Cognac's, and
Marengos on the tree, leaving space
for the lions, which determined should
be Wellington. wished he would so
away. Having some milk in my bottle,
1 took drink, and should have liked to
give some to Cognac. The lion began to
al, |, t<, lao
a foot out of his mouth. He was rs
NANCY and disreputable looking brute as
l ever saw. By-and-by he got up and
and snuifed the air all round him, and
then without as much as looking ut me,
walked off and went deliberately down
| the road.
II slipped to the ground. 1 caught up
Coguac, who had crept out directly, and,
after looking carefully round for the
lion, was smothering me with caresses.
The lion was turning toward bushy
clump in hollow about two hundred
yards off. The light green foliage-wil-
lows, water? Had the cunning brute
shifted it out?
"Anyhow, it was relief to stretch
ones legs after sitting six mortal hours
on branch. The lion disappeared
round the bushes. I strained my eyes
over the plain, but could see nothing
moving. Then / gave Cognac "A drink of
milk and q few bits of bread cake, for
which he was very grateful. OF course
it was no use beginning race against
lion with only two hundred yards start
in any number of miles. The tree was
better than that.
"All the same, he was a long time;
perhaps he was really gone for good.
Bah! there came his ugly head round
the corner again, and making straight
for us.
when he was pretty near I
kissed Cognac, and threw bit of cake
into the hole. Then l climbed again to
my perch. Cognac retired growing into
his fortress and the beast of lion
mounted guard over us as before.
HE looKed quite cool aud comforta-
BILE, and had evidently had good
drink.
another hour passed AMI he was
still there.
while l was still wondering how
long he really meant to say, and if was
destined to spend all night on a bough
like monkey. and on very short COM
mons. he got up, and walking quietly to
the foot of the tree, without uttering q
sound sprang up at me with all his
might.
"He was quite q yard short, but l
was so startled that nearly lost my bal
ance.
His coup having failed he lay down
right down under the branch was on,
crouching his head on his paws as if to
hide his modification.
Suddenly the thought came into my
mind: Why not make devil and drop
it on his back? dismissed the thought.
but it came again. As We have all, in
Guiding our English friend here, been
boys, you know what mean-not u fall
len angel, but q gunpo wder devil.
"Goodl Well, it seemed feasible-I
would try.
II had plenty of power in my little
flask, so putting some into my hand l
moistened it well with spittle and knead
ed away until it came out a tiny Vesu-
vius of black paste. Then l formed a
little crater, which l filed with few
grains Of dry powder. and set it carefully
on the branch.
my hand shook so with excitement
could hardly hold the flint and steel, but
l struck and stru ,k-the finder ignited
now, Vesuvius!
Whit, whiz! The lion looked up di-
rectly, but dropped it plump on the
back OF his neck. For an instant he did
not seem to know what was the matter;
then with an angry growl up he jumped
/ AL 49,, ..-.-al,, tha h,sy farx Aan IN