The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-02-10

tHc obJttb, WHICH, ff1nu JOut was hDfmklIik
and bounding over rocks quite 500 yards /
away, and here this lad. taking a snap shot |
and merely allowing for elevation by in |
stinct, for he did not put up his sights, had |
knocked the bull over as dead as door nail. |
Well made no further remark-the occa- |
sion was too solemn for talking-but merely |
led the way to where the koodoo lay. There |
he was, beautiful and quite still, and there, |
high up, about half way down his neck, was |
neat, round hole The bullet had severed |
the spinal marrow, passing right through |
the vertebr@ and away on the other side
sit was already evening when, having cut
as much Of the best meat as we could carry
from the bull, and tied a red handkerchief
and some tufts of grass TO his spiral horns,
which, by the way, must have been nearly
Ave feet in length, in the hope of keeping
jackals and aasvogels (vultures) from him,
We finally got back to camp to find Pharaoh,
who was getting rather anxious at our alb
sence, ready TO greet us with the pleasing in
telligence that another OK was sick. But
even this dreadful bit of intelligence could
not dash Harry's spirits, the fact Of the mat
ter being that, incredible as 1t may appear,
do verify believe that in his heart of hearts
he set down the death of that koodoo to the
credit of his own skill Now, though the lad
was a tidy shot enough, this Of course was
TiulculOuS dilu UOll nlIl 30 very PLAINLY.
by the time that we had finished our sup
per of koodoo steaks (which would have been
better if the koodoo had been little younger
1t was time to get ready for Jim-Jims muir
deress again All the afternoon Pharaoh
told us the unfortunate OK had been walking
round and round in circle as cattle In the
last stages Of redwater generally do. Now it
had come to a standstill, and was swaying to
and fro with its head hanging down. So we
tied him up to the stump Of the tree as on the
previous night, knowing that if the honess
did not kill him be would be dead by morn
ing. Indeed, was afraid that he would be
of little use as a bait, for lion is a sports
manlike animal, and, unless he is very hun
cry, generally prefers TO kill his own dinner,
though when once killed he will come back
to it again and again.
"Then we repeated our experience of the
previous night, sitting there hour after hour,
till at last Harry went fast asleep, and even
/, though l am accustomed to this sort Of
thing, could scarcely keep my eyes open.
Indeed, / was just dropping off, when Pha-
raoh gave me shove.
" Listenr he whispered.
II was all awake in a second, and listening
with all my ears From the clump of bush to
the right of the lightning shattered stump to
which the OK was tied came q faint cracking
nose. Presently it was repeated. Something
was moving there, family and quietly enough,
but still moving perceptibly, for in the In.
tense stiffness of the night any sound seemed
loud.
II woke up Harry, who instantly said:
Where is shei Where is shef and began to
point his rifle about in a fashion that was
more dangerous to us and the oxen than to
any possible lioness.
" Hush upf whispered savagely; and as
did so with low and hideous growl flash
Of yellow light sped out Of the clump of bush,
past the OK, and into the corresponding clump
upon the other side. The poor sick brute gave
sort of groan, and staggered round and then
began to tremble. could see it do so clearly
in the moonlight, which was now very bright,
and felt brute for having exposed the un-
fortunate animal to such terror as he must
undoubtedly be undergoing. The lioness, for
it was she, passed SO quickly that we could
not even distinguish her movements, much
less shoot. Indeed at night 1t is absolutely
useless to attempt to shoot unless the object
is very close and standing perfectly still, and
then the light is SO deceptive and II is 80 diff
cult to see the foresight that the best shot
will miss more often than he hits.
"'She will be back again presently said:
look out, but for heavens sake don't fire un-
less tell you to-
"Hardly were the words out of my mouth
when back she came and again passed the OK
without striking him.
"'What on earth is she doingp whispered
Harry.
"'Playing with it as cat does mouse
suppose. She will kill it presently.
''As spoke the lioness once more flashed
out of the bush, and this time sprang right
over the doomed OK. 1t was an exciting
| sight to see her clear him in the bright moon
| light as though it were a trick that she had
| been taught.
81 believe that she escaped from circus,
| whispered Harry; it's jolly TO see her jump
81 said nothing, but l thought to myself
that if it was Master Harry did not quite ap-
preciate the performance, and small blame
to him. At any rate, his teeth were chatter
ing a bit.
| "Then came longish pause, and began
| to think that she must have gone away
when suddenly she appeared again, and
with one mighty bound landed right on to
the OK and struck it q frightful blow with
her paw.
"Down it went, and lay on the ground
She put down her wicked looking head with
| fierce growl of contentment. When she
| lifted her muzzle again and stood facing us
obliquely, whispered, 'Now's our time, fire
when do
~ got ON to her as well as l could, but
Harry, instead OF waiting for me as told
him, fired before did, and that OF course
hurried me. When the smoke cleared, how
ever, was delighted to see that the lioness
was rolling about on the ground behind
the body OF the OK, which covered be"
IN such FASHION, however, that we could not
shoot again TO make an end OF her.
'shes done for' she's deadV yelled
Pharaoh In exultation; and at that very mo
ment the honess, with sort OF convulsivs
rush, haif rolled, haif sprang into the patct
Oh thick push 10 tne right ared after hel
as she went, but SO far as could see without
result, Indeed the probability is that
missed her Clean AT any rate, she got ths
bush In safety, and once there, began to maxi
sucn diaoohcai noise as never neard 10
Tore ohe would whine and shrlek, tnei
purse OUT INTO perfect Voiieys OF roarins ina
shooE tne whoie place
wen, l SAID, we must Just let ner roar
70 go into tnat oush after her at night woui'
Dc madness
Az tnat inohient' 70 my astonishment an'
aiarnn' there came an answering roar iron
the urection Oh the river and then anotne
from penlno tns SVEN OF ousn; EVideh.il
tnere were more hons about Inc WOUNDED
| uOneSs feuOuDleu neT EFFORTS, WIN tne ODJect