The Bossier banner., 1888-03-08


lion gave up trying to reach me and
sat up at the foot of the tree. and as
the darkness grew deeper l could see
his eyes blaze like Goals. 1t was no
use expecting any help from the camp.
for no one would know which way to
look for me, and after awhile got
hitch around the tree with my scarf
and took such precautions as would
prevent me from falling off the limb
should go to sleep. That was hor-
| rible night. At an early hour every
species of wild beast and night bird
was astir, and pandemonium reigned
through the forest. Twice before mid
night other lions approached the tree,
to be driven off by the sentry, and
troop of elephants on their way to the
| pool passed within hundred feet.
About midnight the lion took on at
great rate, scratching up the leaves
and switching his tail in defiance, and
heard fierce growing and snarling
from some beast which turned out to
be panther, for heard his claws rak-
ing the bark us he climbed tree few
yards away. I knew what he was
after, and l got my revolver ready and
followed him by sound. He ascended
to a height of about thirty-eight feet,
came toward me on limb. and l could
see his eyes shining like diamonds.
The panther would have to spring
about twenty feet to reach me- The
lion knew what he was after, and he
dashed to and fro under the tree and
kept up such roaring that all other
beasts quit for the time in disgust. was
facing the panther as l sat on my
perch. 1t seemed to me that was
doomed to be eaten by one or the
other, and the only possible show had
was shot at the panther. l could see
nothing but his eyes, but held my
revolver as steady as possible and
pulled the trigger. l think the beast
was just ready to spring. l can not
ssy that hit him, but the flash and re-
port would have confused him. l had
hardly fired when he came for me, but
fell Short and down he went to be
seized by the enraged lion. That fight
would have been worth going good
long way to see. 1t lasted fully fifteen
minutes. and the fierce snarls and ter
rible roars kept me in a tremble. By
and by both beasts seemed to have had
enough. and the conflict ceased. /
heard the lion walking about and
whining and moaning, but after few
minutes these sounds ceased, and l was
not further disturbed during the night.
When daylight came | saw the panther
dead at the foot of the tree. and just at
the edge of the pool was the dead body
of the lion. He had gone there to
drink, and had tumbled over just as he
turned from the water.
examined both bodies carefully be-
fore left. Such work with teeth and
claws few men ever saw. The lion had
seized each foreleg of the panther and
crushed the bones of the ankle in his
teeth. He had torn his neck in a hor-
rible manner, and had bitten the flesh
of one of his cheeks until pull would
ApNC oAPooou IHo JdW-pohc oH lHstt
side. The panther had bitten tie lion
} about the throat and breast, but had
depended more on his claws. With
these he had literally disemboweled
the king.
Fifty miles to the south of where this
adventure happened one of our men
was one morning pushing his way
through the high grass along the left
: bank of dry creek when lioness. lior
and two half-grown cubs sprang up be.
fore him. There was no time to retreat
and he was too dumbfounded to cry
J out. The lions stood and stared for {
few seconds, evidently more frightened
} than the man, and then went off with {
) rush. That day, as we sat in the shade
Of a great tree eating our lunch, we
were suddenly saluted with roar OF
defiance. Our tree stood in the open
nearly quarter of mile from the
forest, and there were twenty-five of u:
around the fire. 1t was high noon, will
a bright sun, and yet a lion came ou
of the woods and directly toward us
/ roaring as he came and evidently full
} of fight. The native called cut that i
, was one of those he had seen in thu
; grass. and for time none of us moved
However, it soon became evident tha
the old fellow meant mischief, and ".
seized guns and spears. He helt
straight for the crowd, roaring ant
} growing, and the instant the first sho
was fired he increased his gait to
rush. He was among us in few sec
onds, and for couple of minutes ther,
} was wild excitement. Two or three mer
were knocked down, two bitten, on
5 struck by bullet intended for the lion
| and the beast was finally killed by tn
thrust of a spear.-N Y. Sun.
t In every country there is som