The Russellville Democrat., 1888-08-30

bne ObneF pdFtNs Wc udu idhA5 NAu- vassed what was to be done, and had drawn lots to see who should be se- lected. 1 was the lucky winner. 1t was not more than a quarter after nine when a lion roared, and greatly to our satisfaction we found that he was directly north of us. For the space of three hundred feet the ground was as level as hoor Then it ascended slightly for hundred feet further to a ridge, beyond which was rocky and bgohen ground. As we sprang up we made out two lions on this ridge. The moon was clear, and we could see them almost as plainly as by day. They were male and female, of large size, and the fact of their exposing themselves so boldly proved their courage. 1 was all ready, and after hand-shake with my companions I walked over to the other party, which had been throw into 8 state of great excitement Some had their guns. and some were bringing them out, and l raised my voice and comfnanded att tention, and said:
 'FGentlemen, the lions are here! Do not open a fusillade and scare them of, but wait until they come nearer. !"
 'Would you wait until they are in the camp?" shouted the paymaster.
 Not exactly, but they must have a fair show, you knowP Even our cowardly natives here can fire of guns and raise great row. Why don't a couple of you go forward with your rihes?"
 "Ear him talk" growieu an En- glishman.
 No thing but Yankee bluster!" add ed a second.
 You and I will advance upon the beasts alone,n I said to the French sprig of nobility. who stood with gun in hand.
 '.No! mol mol" he replied as he backed off.
 But thought you gave the lion a fair showP Is there a man in this crowd who dares go with me?"
 l stepped out revolver in hand, and for half a minute there was deep silence. Then two or three of them, urged me not to be foolhardy, while two or three others growled out that it was only Yankee bluff and buster. The lions roared again, making the very earth tremble, and saw that neither had changed position.
 Some of you have seen fit to slur the nerve required by men in our voca- tion," said when the roarings died away. T am going to drive those lions off the ridge. should like com pany. Who will come with meP"
 Not man moved.
 Every well, will go alone. This, as all can see. is my only weapon"
 l struck out at moderate pace, face to the lions and the revolver in hand. [ was going to bluff the beasts or lose my life. I believed they could be bluffed. They stood about four feet apart, heads elevated and tails up, and 1 had not advanced forty feet when both uttered deep growl. Before had gone hundred feet the men were begging me to return. Had I faltered or halted or looked back my power would have vanished in second. had my eyes on the lions, and l went steadily forward. They growled again and switched their tails. When l had covered one-third of the distance the female crouched as if for run at me, while the male was evidently uneasy. At half the distance the male advanced a step or two, with a low roar, and the female changed her place to the other side of him. Behind me every man held his breath, believing l was going to certain death. I am uot going to deny that l was in tremble, and that I would have given ten years of my life to be out of the scrape, but had been insulted and slurred as Yankee, and 1 was either to die like Yankee or come off with flying colors.
 When I had come within fifty feet of the lions fully expected they would rush upon me. Both were excited and angry, and both ready. Here was where nerve came into play. It was a game of bluff but it takes nerve to bluff. kept straight on for the male, and he let me come within thirty feet ty-ten-indeed, got the full strength of his offensive breath before he sprang aside with snarl and trot- ted away. His mate followed his move ments, and was saved. Every man who has hunted the lion knows that il f you can upset him he becomes coward ly. To upset him you have got to work on his other nature. He is easily mys- tified and just as superstitious as an old woman. The idea of my daring to come straight at them, alone and apparently unarmed. was too much for their equanimity. Once they were on the run they became more frightened with every rod, and this permitted me to carry out the second part of the programme. 1 shouted after them, calling them jackals aud towards, and chased the male along the ridge for , forty rods or more. l also emptied my , revolver at the pair, taking care not to aim too carefully, and the result was that both ran of into the desert, with , their tails dragging. l returned to camp to receive an ovation, and Tan kee stock went above par at single ! bound. I, of course, tried to make light of the adventure, but l was really } in cold sweat, and my knees did not get over their weakness for hours. Next day we separated from the party and pushed on up the stream for twenty miles, where we halted and made a permanent camp. The left hand bank was here timbered and broken, offering good cover for lions, and our first night satisfied us that we had them in plenty around us. On the