Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-05-05

q
sprung up and was driving long hurrying
lines Of cloud across the starry sky, and alto
gether Q great change had come over the
mood of the night. By the look OF the sky
judged we must be about two hours from
daybreak.
1.-THE oxen, which were as usual tied to the
1isselboom Of the Scotch cart, were restless
they kept snuffing and blowing and rising
up and lying down again, 50 at once sus-
spected that they must wind something
Presently knew what IL was that they
winded, for within fifty yards Of us lion
roared, not very loud, but quite loud enough
to make my heart come into my mouth.
'sPharaoh was sleeping On tho other side OF
tho cart, and beneath it saw him raise his
head and listen.
"'Lion, Inkoos,' he whispered, Hon.
"Jim-Jim also jumped up, and by the faint
light could see that he was in a very great
fright indeed ...-.
thinking that it was as well to be pre-
pared for emergencies, told Pharaoh to
throw wood upon the fire, and woke up
Harry, who verify believe was capable of
sleeping happily through the crack Of DOOM
He was little scared at first, but presently
the excitement Of the position came home to
him, and he became quite anxious to see his
majesty face to face. / got my rife handy
and gave Harry his--a Westly Richards fall
ing block, which is very useful gun for a
youth, being light and yet a good killing
riie-and then we waited.
"For long time nothing happened, and
began to think that the best thing that we
could do would be to go to sleep again, when
suddenly heard q sound more like a cough
than a roar within about twenty yards of the
skerm. We all looked out, but could see
nothing; and then followed another period
Of suspense. It was very trying to the
nerves, this waiting for an attack that might
be developed from any quarter, or might not
be developed at all; and though was an old
hand at this sort of business, / was anxious
about Harry, for it is wonderful how the
presence of anybody to whom one is attached
unnerves q man in moments Of danger, and
that made me nervous know, although ii
was now chilly enough, could feel the per-
spiration running down my nose, and in order
to relieve the strain on my attention, en-
ployed myself in watching beetle which ap-
peared to be attracted by the freight, and
was sitting before it thoughtfully rubbing his
antenne against each other.
Suddenly the beetle gave such jump
that he nearly pitched headlong into the fire,
and so did we all-gave jumps, mean, and
no wonder, for from right under the skerm
fence there came a most fightful roar-a
roar that literally made the Scotch cart
shake and shake and took the breath out
Of No ,.. r
howled outright, while the poor oxen, who
were terrified almost out Of their hides, shiv-
cred and lowed piteously.
"The night was almost entirely dark now,
for the moon had quite set and the clouds
had covered up the stars, so that the only
light that we had came from the fire, which
by this time was burning up brightly again
But, as you know, freight is absolutely use
less to shoot by, it Is SO uncertain, and besides
IL penetrates but a very little way into the
darkness, although if one is In the dark out
side one can see it from SO far away.
Presently the oxen, after standing still
for Q moment, suddenly winded the lion and
did what l feared they would-began to
'skrek, that is, to try and break loose from
the trektow to which they were tied, and
rush of madly into the wilderness. Lions
know of this habit on the part Of oxen, which
are, do believe, the most foolish animals uzs
der the sun, Q sheep being q very Solomon
compared to them, and it Is by no means un-
common for lion to get in such a position
that herd or span Of oxen may wind him,
shrek, break their reins and rush of into the
bush OF course, once they are there they
are helpless In the dark; and than the hon
chooses the one that he loves best and eats
him at his leisure
"Well, round and round went our six poor
oxen, nearly trampling US to death in their
mad rush; indeed, had we not hastily tuna
bled out Of the way we should have been
trampled to death, or at the least seriously
injured. As It was, Harry was run over,
and poor Jim-Jim being caught by the trek
tow somewhere beneath the arm, was hurled
right across the skerm, landing by my side
only some PAGES OF.
t'Snap went the disselboom Of the cart be-
meath the transverse strain put upon it. Had
IL not broken the cart would have overset; as
it was, In another minute, oxen. cart, trek
tow, reims, broken disselboom, and every
thing were soon tied in one vast heaying,
plunging, bellowing and seemingly inextrica-
bic knot.
took my attention of from the lion that had
caused it, but while ] was wondering what
ON earth was to be done next, and what we
| 1LOu1u 0O II tkto C<sStAS ~ oAo sOoco AAASO sA4o
bush and were lost, for cattle frightened in
this manner will 60 right away like mad
things, it was suddenly recalled in Q very
painful fashion.
"For at that moment perceived by the
light Of the fire a kind Of glearn Of yellow
travelling through the air toward us.
"'The lioni the honr holloaed Pharaoh,
and as he did 20 he or she, for 1t was great.
gaunt ioness, half wild, no doubt, with
hunger, Lit right in the middle Of the skerm,
and stood there in the smoky gloom and
lashed her tail and roared. seized my rife
and fred 1t at her, but what between the con-
fusion and my agitation and the uncertain
light, missed her and nearly shot Pharaoh.
The dash Of the rife, however, threw the
whole scene into strong relief, and wild one
It was, can tell you-with the seething mass
Of oxen twisted all around the cart in such q
fashion that their heads looked as though
they were growing out Of their rumps and
their horns seemed to protrude from their
backs; the smoking fire, with just blaze in
| the heart of the smoke; Jim-Jim in tho fore
Oro,ud whera the oxen had thrown him In