Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1888-03-01

erect, his name bristling like the hair
on 6 cat. the very persOni6c4tiOn Of
brute strength and courage.
AS his eyes lighted on the gorilla
bis tail began 10 wave 10 and fro.
Wider and wider grew its sweep, I'M
til at last it struck his ribs, first one
side and then the other, with resound-
ing blows. while roar upon roar gave
token of his increasing rage and an
ger. The gorilla placed his upper
hands apon the ground and bounded
into the air fully six feet, alighting
on four hands and bounding mp again
and again, seemingly for the purpose
Of enraging the lion 10 the greatest
possible degree. He then rose to his
full height on his hinder hands, inter.
ing tremendous roars and beating his
breast with his great fist, producing
sounds like those made by heavy
blows upon a bass drum. Then he
dropped upon all fours again, remain
ing perfectly motionless with the ex-
ception Of his eyebrows, which worked
up and down with lightning like speed,
giving an expression of ferocity to his
face that is Undesirable.
Fascinated at the sight, my rifle
dropped from my shoulder and my
guide and l lay fiat upon the ground,
mute witnesses of the tragedy about
to be enacted. Suddenly the lion ut
tered another ear-splitting roar and
bounded forward. A few short steps,
tremendous leap, two or three sharp,
short growls, and both combatants
were in the air together. the gorilla
having leaped high and straight as
the lion charged. In mid-air the lion
turned and struck apparently vainly
at the gorilla, who. as the lion fell
on his side upon the ground, alighted
on him. struck him two terrific blows
and bounded away with sliding run
to distance of several yards. I could
DOW see that the gorilla was severely
wounded on the head and side, and
that the lion had fearful cash in his
side, for surely his ribs could never
have withstood those two tremendous
blows.
AS soon as he regained his feet he
charged at the gorilla again and again,
but was eluded every time, it being
almost impossible to follow their rap
id movements in the half light of the
clearing. At last the lion paused, and
as he did so the ape dashed at him
and, striking him a stunning blow
upon the side of the head, completely
rolled him over. Again and again
the charges were renewed, and at ev-
cry pause the gorilla returned the
charge and knocked the lion sideways.
These blows seemed to daze the great
cat, and as he rose he more than once
staggered and fell, the gorilla mean.
while dancing with a peculiar bob
bing movement around and in front OF
him.
The lion now began to make feints
to draw his adversary within range.
At last, stopping in a mad rush, the
gorilla struck short, the lion rushed
in, turned upon his back and received
the gorilla with teeth and claws.
Growls, snarls and roars pealed forth
from a whirling mass OF leaves and
dust; limbs and bodies strangely min
gled were dimly seen through it, as
though twenty beasts instead of two
were engaged in one conglomerate
death struggle. At last there was a
sickening crash. horrible crunching
of bones, demoniaced yell Of pain,
faster and faster whirled the mass,
then followed a pause, and l saw the
lion was uppermost with the left arm
of the gorilla in his powerful jaws; his
claws were fixed in the apes shoulder
and he himself was one mass of gashes
and rents. The right hand of the GO
rilla was fixed in the lions side, and
both his hinder hands were drawn up
and seemingly imbedded in the lion 8
ribs.
There was moments pause, as if
for breath, and then the gorilla sud-
denly twisted his head under the
lion s throat, the hinder hands straight
ened out with nauseating sound of
rending flesh, as with one swift stroke
be completely disembowled the lion.
There arose a terrific cry of anguish,
a sudden swirl around, several strokes
OF brown paws and dark, hairy arms
through the cloud of dust, aud then
all was over.
The whirling leaves settled, and
there in a death grip lay the two
mighty monarchs of the wilds. The
lion was utterly disembowlsd. his en-