The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-04-03

still keeping my eyes on the lions~s, | con
/ inued my backward walk.
/ ITO my intense relief, with a low growl she
Strengthened herself, turned and bounded OH
/ further up the hloof
"'Cumo on, mkoos,' said Tom, Tets get
back 10 the wagon
"'Au right, Tom / answered. i will
when have killed those three other lions,
for by this time was bent on shooting them
as never remember being bent on anything
bcforeo since You can 90 il you ike, or
you can get up a tree
"IIa considered the position n little, and
then very wisely got up q tree. | wish that |
had done the same,
meanwhile had got out my knife, which
had an extractor in 10, and succeeded after
some difficulty in hauling out the case which
had ~ nearly been the cause Of my death
and removing the obstruction in the barrel.
IL WIS very little thicker than a postage
stamp certainly not thicker than "a piece Of
writing par.r This done | loaded the gun.
bound my handkerchief around my wrist and
hand b. staunch the flowing of the blood and
started on again.
IL had noticed that the lioneSs went into
thick green bush, or rather cluster of bushes,
growing near the water, for there was little
stream running down the kioOf, about fifty
wards higher up, and for this made. When
| got there however could Sse nothing, 50
took up a big stone and threw il into the
bushes | believe that IL hit the other cub,
for out il came with a rush, giving me
broadsde shot OF which ! promptly awaited
myself, knocking it over dead. Out, too, came
the lioness like a fash Of light, but, quick as
she went, managed TO put the other
bullet into her ribs, 40 that she rolled
over three times like shot rabbit
instantly got two more cartridges
into the gun, and as | did so the lioness got
up again and came crawling toward NE on
her forepaws, roaring and groaning, and
with such an expression Of diabolical fury on
her countenance as had not often seen. |
sbo, her again through the chest, and she fell
over on to her side quite dead.
THAT WAS the tirscand last time that ever
killed brace OF lions right and left, and,
what is more, never heard OF anybody else
doing it Naturally l was considerably
pleased with myself, and having again loaded
up, went on TO look for the black-naned
beauty who had killed Kaptein. Slowly and
with the greatest care proceed up the kloof
searching every bush and tuft Of grass as
went 1t was wonderfully exciting work, for
never was sure from one moment 10 another,
but that be would he on me, took comfort,
however, from the reflection that lion rarely
attacks u man--rarely, | say; sometimes he
does, Us you win see-unlees he Is cornered or
wounded must have been nearly an hour
hunting after the lion. Once thought | saw
move in clump of tanbouh
grass. but could not be sure, and when |
trod out the grass could not find him.
"Weu, got up Ia the top OF the nullah ana
looked all round. No sign of the lion. Evi-
IDENTIFY had either overlooked him further
down or he had escaped right away. IL was
very vexatious, but still three lions was not
bad hog for one gun before dinner, and was
fam 10 H. content. Accordingly | departed
back again, making my way round the iso
lated pillar of bOulders, and beginning to feel
that was pretty well done up with excite
nlent and fatigue, and should be more SO IT,
fore had skinned those three lions. When had
got, as nearly ms could judge, about eighteen
wards past the pillar or mass of boulders, |
turned to have another look round. have a
pretty sharp eye, but | could see nothing
at all.
"Then, on a sudden, saw something sufti-
ciently alarming On the top of the mass of
boulders opposite to me, standing out clear
against the rock beyond, was the huge black
named lion He hnd been crouchiuG there
and now arose as though by magic. There he
stood lnshing his tail just like statue Of the
animal on the gateway of Northumberland
house that had seen picture Of But he
did not stand long. Before ! could fire--be
fore could do moro I'll N get the gun to my
SpranG str ght up and out from
the rock and driven by the impetus of that
one mighty bound came hwling through enc
air toward me.
"Heavens how grand he looked, and how
awful! High into the air he flew, describing
q great arch just as he touched the highest
point Of his spring fired. | did not dare to
wait for | saw that he would clear the whole
space and land right on me Without
sight, almost without um, ] fired, as one
would fire a snap shot at a sntr@. The bullet
told for | distinctly heard its thud above the
rushing sound caused by the passage of the
hon through the air. Next second | was
swept TO the ground Quickly fell into low
creeper clad bush, which broke the shock,
and the lion was ON top Of me, and the next
those great white teeth Of his had met III my
thigh heard them CRATE against the bone.
yelled out in agony, for did not feel in the
least benumhed and happy, like Dr. Living
stone whom, 10y the way, knew very we'll
and gave myself up for dead. But suddenly, MS
| did 50, the lions grip on my thigh loosened,
and he stood over me swaying to and fro, bis
huge mouth, from which the blood was gush-
ing. wide open. Then he roa-ed, and the
sound shook the rocks.
ITO and fro he swung, and suddenly the
great head dropped on me, knocking all the
breath from my body, and he was dead. Ny
bullet had entered in tho center OF his chest
and passed out on the right side Of the spine
about halfway down the back.
"The pam of my wound kept me from faint
ing, and as soon as | got my breath l man
aged to drag myself from under him. Thank
heavens his great teeth had not crushed my
thigh bone; but was losing great deal Of
blood. and had it not been for the timely ar
rival OF Tom, with whose aid got the hand
kerchief or my wrist and tied IL round my
leg, twisting il tight with a stick, l think ]
should have bled 10 death
"Well it was Just reward for my folly in
trying to tackle a family of lions single
handed The odds were too long | have
been lnuse ever since and shall he TO my dying
day; In the month Of March the wound al
ways troubles me great deal, and every
three years il breaks out raw. l need
scarcely add that never traded the lot OF