The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-28
he corner again, making straight for

S-1o S"AHo' "eo"h', h<'h'iiS oClalSuC lOE
us.
"When he was pretty near kissed
Cognac and threw bit more cake into
the hole, Then | climbed again to my
perch, Cognac retired growing into his
fortress, and the beast of Il lion mounted
guard over us rs before. ....
"IIe looked quite cool and comfort
able, and had evidently had Il good
drink. ..
"Anothcr hour, and he was still there.
"While | was wandering how long lie
really meant to stay, and if / was dcs-
tined to spend all night on Il bough like
monkey, and on very short commons,
ne got up, and walking quitely to the
foot OF The tree, without uttering q
sound, sprang up at mo with all his
might.
"lle was quite a yard short, but was
so startled that l nearly lost my bal
tmcc.
his coup having failed, he lay down
right under the branch was OH, couch
ing his head on his paws as il to hide his
| notification.
"Suddenly the thought came into my
mind: Why not make a devil and drop
1t on his back? l dismissed it as ridicu-
lous, but it came again. AS VIC have
all, including our English friend here,
Deen boys, you know what mcan-not
II fallen angel, but the gun-powder
devil.
"Good! Well, it seemed fcasiblc-I
would try it.
II had plenty of powder in my little
flask, SO pouring some into my hand, |
moistencd it well with spittle and knead-
ed away until it came out tiny Nesu
vius of black paste. Then formed the
little crater, which | filled with few
grains Of powder, and set it carefully on
the branch.
My hand shook with excitement;
could hardly hold the flint and steel, but
L struck and Struck-the tinder ignited
how NeSllvius!
"Whiff, whizzl The lion looked up
directly, but dropped it plumb on the
back of his neck. For an instant lie did
not seem to know what had happened;
then with an angry growl up he Jumped
and tore savagely ut the big fiery flea on
his back. which sent Il shower of sparks
into his mouth and nose.
Again and again he tried, and then
raved wildly about, using the most hor-
rlble leonine language, and 10 wonder,
Tor the devil had worked well down
among his greasy hair, and must have
stung him like Il hundred hornets. Ills
back hair and mane burst into flame,
and he shrickcd with rage and terror.
'"Then he went stark, staving mad
clapped his tail between his legs, laid
back his ears, and rushed out Of the
grove at twenty miles an hour. and dis
appeared up the ravine.
Almost as mad as the lion with ioy.
and feeling sure he was gone for good, |
tumbled down tho tree and ran off along
| the road as hard as | could with Cognac
barking at my heels. by and by l had
to pull up, for the sun was still very hot,
but. walked us fast as could, looking
out all the time for Marengo, who would
not, knew, go very far from his master.
Presently | spied him in a hollow. a.
whistle, and whinnying with delight, he
trotted up and laid his head On my
shoulder.
"ln my hurry had forgotten the br-
die, but with my belt and handkerchief
extcmporzed a halter, tied one end round
his nose, and, catching up Cognac,
mounted and gallopcd off, defying ali
the lions in Africa to catch me-
''There were still two hours before
sunset to reach the next village, and by
hard riding did it, That we all three
OF us enjoyed our suppers goes without
saying. And that, gentlemen, is my
story"
We agreed it was wonderful