Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-25
lcoxIINuED.l
A TALE OF THREE LIONS
BIZ h. RIDER HAGoARD.


because we wanted to, for we were too de-
pressed and tired but because we had no
more meat For three hours or more
wandered about in broiling sun looking
for something TO kill, but absolutely with no
results For some unknown reason the
game had grown very scarce about the spot,
though when was there two years before
every sort OF large game except rhinoceros
and elephant was particularly abundant.
The lions, OF whom there were many alone
remained, and fancy it was the fact of the
game they live On having temporarily mi
grated that made them so daring and Zero
cioiIs. As q general rule a lion is an aIniable
animal enough if he is let alone, but
hungry lion is almost dangerous
hungry man. One hears great many diff
fcreut opinions expressed as to whether or
no the lioa is remarkable for his courage.
but the result Of my experience is that very
much depends upon the state Of his stomach
4 hungry lion will not stick at a trife.
whereas, full one Will flee at a very small
rebu.e.
well We hunted all about and nothing
could We rae. not even duck or bush buck,
and at last, thoroughly tired and out OF tenn
per, VI, started way back 10 camp,
passing over the brow Of a steepish hill to do
50. Just got over the ridge froze up
like pointer dog, for there, about go yards
to my left, his beautiful curved horns out
lined against the soft blue Of the sky, saw
a noble koodoo bull ,strefsiceros kudul. Even
at that dislance-for, a. You know, my eyes
are very k.--n--I could distinctly see the white
stripes upon its side when the light fell upon
1t and its large and pointed ears twtch as the
flies worried it,
$50 far fgpgl. tuf how get
at itl 1t was ridiculous to risk shot at that
great distance, and yet both the ground
and the wind lay very i'll for stalking. 1t
seemed to that the only chance would
be to make detour OF at least mile or
more and come up on the other side OF the
koodoo. | callSi Harry TO my side and ex
planned to him what thought would he our
best course when suddenly, without any
delay the kooloo saved US any further
trouble by suddenly starting Off down the
hill like leaping rocket. don't know what
had frightened it, certainly we had not.
Perhaps hyena or leopard "a tiger as we
call it therc-had suddenly appeared; at any
rate off 1t went, running slightly toward us,
and | never saw a buck go faster AS for
Harry, he stood watching the beautiful ami
mails course. Presently it vanished behind "A
patch OF bush, To emerge n few seconds later
about 800 pace from us, on a stretch of com
paratvey level round that was strewn with
p bow i,iers. On it went taking the powders
sin Us path in succession of great bounds
TINT We're beautiful TO behold. A, it did 50 |
happened 10 look round at Harry and per-
crivcd to my astonishment that he had got
his ri,ie to his shoulder.
"'Iou foolish boy" l calculated, surely
you are not going to'-and just at that mo
nicut the rifle went OFF
and then | think saw what was, in its
VIZ. one OF the most wonderful things ever
remember in my hunting experience. The
koodoo was at the moment in the air, clearing
a pile of stones with its fore legs tucked up
underneath it, Al in an instant the legs
sire: he'd Themselves out in spasmodic
faAiuon, and 1t lit on them and they doubled
up beneath it. Down went the noble buck,
down on to its head For moment it seemed
to be standing on its horns. its hind legs high
in the air, and then over it went and lay still
"Great heavens | sad. why, you've hit
him. Hos dead.
AS for Harry, he said nothing, but
merely looked scared, well he Knight. 4
man, let alone boy, might have fired a
thousand such shots without ever touching
the object, which, mind you, was springing
and bounding over rocks quite 800 yards
away, and here this lad. taking snap shot
and merely allowing for elevation by in
,,',,.1 .,'',i,,i 49,. i'' ~ us 80 no.
vi a. ''e'' % " w. 'i''ii
' ','''o ~ i'' .N0' ,oi' 'i4o W.
sion was too solemn for talking-but merely
, ,e' e"o "'y ~ "'''ic 'no "'o'i',o nay i"ere
he was, beautiful and quite still, and there,
nc" up aD'.I nan way uo"n MS necA was
"'"'' 'o'''' "''o' ms ouiie' ','iu seNeieu
Wv. .ho 't,..'',' l''.'lio", passllS iiS"' through
'"o Nc' 'e"if anu away Oh 'he o'her sue
was one"uy evening "heii' having cut
80 ii'u'' " inc oe',' meat "S we could carry
IRON '''e puii' anu elea req hailaHercfiiei
ui,i SOME 'uits OIL grass 10 DIS SPIRAL horns'
""'n' ~ 'ne way must nave peeii nearly
I'VE ieeV III iehgth' III 'he nope OF keeping
Jachal' ana aaSVoSeS VhithreSl from MN,
we ili'aiS Gol oacA 10 camp 10 ma lharaoh,
WHO WIS ee'tih3 rather anxious at our ao-
~1'e ready 10 greet US win 'he pleasing IN
te'''-ehce 'h'D another OK vas SICK But
/ ,