The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-06


 the moment oddly enough thought Of the cartridge maker, whose name l will not mention, and earnestly hoped that if the lion got me some condign punish meat would oveTtake him. It would not go in, so tried to pull it out. It would not come out, either. and my gun was useless If could not shut 1t to use the other barrel might as we'll have had no gun. Meanwhile was walking back ward, keeping my eye on the lioness, who was creeping forward on her belly with out sound, bat flashing her tail and keeping her eye oa me; and in it saw that she was coming in a few seconds more. dashed my wrist and the palm of nay hand against the brass rim of the cartridge till the blood poured from them look, there are the scars of 1t to this dayl"
 Here Quatermain held up his right hand to the light and showed as seven or eight white cicatrices just where the wrist is set into the hand.
 But 1t was not ot the slightest use, he went on the cartridge would not move. only hope that no other man will ever be put in such an awful posi- don. The lioness gathered herself to- gether, and gave myself up tor lost, when suddenly Tom shouted ou. f'om somewhere in my rear:
 GA You are walking on to the wounded cub turn to the right
 had the sense, dazed as I was to take the hiat, and slowing round at right angles, but still keeping my eyes on the lioness, continued my backward walk.
 "To my intease relief, with a low growl, she straightened herself, turned and bounded of further up the kloof.
 "s Come on, Inkoos,' said Tom, let's get back to the wagon.'
 All right, Tom, answered. will when have killed those other three lions,' for by this time was bent on shooting them as never remember be- ing bent on anything before or since You can go if you like. or you can get up a tree.'
 " He considered the position little, and then he very wisely got up a tree. wish that had done the same.
 Meanwhile had got out my knife, which had an extractor in it, and suc- ceeded after some difficulty in hauling out the case which had so nearly been the cause of my death. and removing the ob struction in the barrel. It was very little thicker than postage stamp; certainly not thicker than piece of writing-pa This done, loaded the gun, bound my handkerchief round my wrist and hand to stanch the flowing of the blood, and started on again.
 had noticed that the lioness went into thick green bush, or rather clus. ter of bushes, growing near the water, for there was little stream running down the kloof, about fifty yards higher up, and for this made. When 1 got there, however, could see nothing, so took up big stone and threw 1t into the bushes. l believe that it hit the other cub, for out it came with 6 rush. giving me broadside shot, of which promptly availed myself, knocking 1t over dead Out, too, came the lioness like flash Of light, but quick as she went, managed to pat the other bullet into her ribs, SO that she rolled right 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 crawl ing toward me on her fore paws, roaring and groaning, and with such an expres- sion of diabolical fury on her countenance as l have not often seen. shot her again through the chest, and she fell over onto her side quite dead.
 "That was the first and last time that ever killed brace of lions right and left, and what is more, 1 never heard of anybody else doing it. Naturally, was considerably pleased with myself, and having again loaded up, went on to look for the blsck-maned beauty who had killed Ksptein. Slowly and with the greatest care proceeded up the kloof, searching every bush and tuft of grass as went. It was wonderfully exciting work, for never was sure from one moment to another but that he would be on me took comfort, however, from the reaec- ton that lion rarely attacks man rarely, say; sometimes he does, as you will see-unless he is cornered or wounded. must have been nearly au hour in hunting after the lion. Oace 1 thought Isaw something move in clump of tambouki grass, but could not be sure, and when l trod out the grass could not find him.
 kloof, which made a cul-de-sac. It vas .oAAASo VI "au oA AoSA 3uout uiiy isct high. Down this rock trickled little waterfall, and in front ofit some seventy feet from its face, was great piled up mass of powders, in the crevices and on the top of which grew ferns and grasses and stunted bushes. This mass was about twenty five feet high. The sides of the kloof here were also very steep Well, got up to the top of the nullah and looked all round. No signs of the lion. Evidently had either overlooked him further down, or he had escaped right away. It was very vexatious; bu, still three lions were not bad bag for oae gun before dinner, and was tain to be content. Accordingly departed back again, making my way round the isolated pillar of powders, and beginning to feel fh haA 1 .xaa x,s>S4zu s~aI Aona zn S;sA