Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-02-11
IN such o fashion, however, That We could no,
shoot again to make an end Of her.

shoot again to make an end Of her.
ashes done for, she's deadr yelled
Pharaoh in emulation; and at that very mo-
hent the lioness, with a sort Of convulsive
rush, half rolled, half sprang into tue patch
as she went, but 50 far as I could see without
result. Indeed, the probability is that I
missed her clean. At any rate, she got to the
bush in safety, aud once there, began to make
such q diabolical noise Us I never heard be-
fore. She would whine and Shrek, then
burst ont into perfect volleys Of roaring that
shook the whole place.
"'Nen,' I said, we must just lot her roar;
to go into that bush after her at night would
be madness
"At that moment, to my establishment aud
alarm, there came an answering roar from
the direction Of the river and then another
from behind the swell OF bush. Evidently
there were more lions about. The wounded
loness redoubled her efforts, with the object,
I suppose, Of summoning the others to her as
sistance. At any rats they came, and
quickly, too, for within five minutes, pecping
through the bushes Of our skcrm fence, we
saw a magnificent lion bounding along to-
ward US through the tall tamboulin grass
that in the moonlight looked for all the world
like ripening corn. On he came in great
leaps, aud a glorious sight it was to see him.
When within fifty yards or so he stood still
in an open space and reared, and the lioness
roared too, and then there came a third roar
and another great black named lion stalkcd
majestically up and joined No. 9, and really
I began to realize what Jim.Jim must have
undergone.
"'Now, Harry I whispered, whatever
you do, don't fire-it's too risky. II they lot
US be, let them be-
well, the pair OF them marched Off to tho
bush, where tie wounded lioness was now
roaring double tides, and the whole three Of
them began to snarl and grumble away to-
gether there. Presently, however, the lion
ess ceased roaring and the two lions came out
again, b black NAMED ono irst-to prospect,
1suPpose-and walked to where the carcass
OF tho OK lay and shifted at it.
"'Oh, what a shoti' whispered Harry, who
was trembling with excitement
Eyes said, but don't tire; they might
all of them come for u.s.
Harry said nothing, but whether it was
from the natural willfulness Of youth, or be-
cause 10 was thrown Off his balance by cx-
element, or from sheer recklessness, l am
sure | cannot tell you, never having been
able to get a satisfactory explanation IRON
him; but ut any rate tho fact remains. ho.
without a word Of warning, entirely disre-
gardinS my eahortatiors, lifted up his West
Icy Richards and fired at the black named
lion; aud, what is moro, hit it slightly on tho
flank.
Next second there was u most awful roar
from tho injured brute. He Elarcd around
him and roared with pain, for he was sadly
stung; and then, before I could make up my
mind what to do, the great black named
brute, evidently ignorant OF tho cause Of his
pain, sprans right at tho throat Of his com
panion, to whom he evidently attributed his
misfortune. 1t was o curious sight to sec the
evident establishment Of tho other lion at this
most unprovokcd assault. Over no rolled
with an angry roar, and on to him sprang
tho black named demon, and commenced
to worry him. This finally awoke
the yellow manod lion to a sense
Of tue situation, and I am bound
to say that he rose to the occasion in a
most effective manner. Somehow or other
he got to his feet, and roaring md slnartins
frishtfully closed with his mighty foo. And
then cnsued q scene that absolutely battles
description. You know what Il shocking
thin. it is to see two large dogs fighting. with
abandonment. We'll, a whole hundred of
dogs could not have looked half SO torribl.
as tl1ose two great brntcs % they rolled and
coared md rent in their rage. II was al
awful and II wonderful thing to eco the grcn'
cats tearing at each other with nil tho ticrc,
energy of their savage strength, and maxim,
the night hidcouS with their heartshukin.
noise. And tho fight was a grand one, too
Tor some minutes it was impossible to say
which was getting tho best Of it, but at last
saw that the black named lion, though he
was slightly tho bigger, was failing. | an,
inclined to think that the wound in his flank
crippled him. Anyway, no began to get thu
worst Of it, which served him right, ns be
feeling sorry for him, for he had fought a
gallant fight, when his antagonist finally got
him by tho throat. and, struggle ind strike
out as he would, began to shake tho life out
Of him. Over end over they rolled together,
an awe inspiring spectacle, but tho yellow
boy would not loose his hold, and ut length
poor black mane grew faint, his breath came
il great shores n seemed to rattle in his
n~ostrils, then he opened his huge mouth,
gavo the ghost OF q roar, Quivered and was
dead.
when he was quito sure that tho victory
was his own, the yellow named lion looscd
his grip and shifted at his fallen foe. Then
he licked the dead lions eye, and next, with
his fore feet resting on the carcass, sent I'D
his WI chant Of victory, that went rolling
and pealing down tho dark ways of the night
i'll oil tho gathered majesty Of sound. And
at this point | interfcred. Taking q careful
sight at the center OF his body, in order tn
give tho largest possible margin for error, l
fired, and sent a $40 express bullet right
through him, md down he dropped dead
upon his mighty foe.
"At that, fairly satisfied with our perform
ances, We slept peaceably till dawn, leaving
Pharaoh to keep watch in case any moro
lions should take i! into their heads to come
our way.
when the sun was fairly up we arose, and
very cautiously procecded-at least Pharaoh
and l did, for I would not allow Harry to
come-to 500 il we could zee anything of the
wounded lioness. Shc had ccascd roaring
Immediately on the arrival Of tho two lions.
and bad not made a sound since; from which
wc concluded that she was probably dead.
l was armed with my express, and Pharaoh,
In whose hands q rife was indeed a danger
GUS weapon-to his companions-had an OK.
On our way we stopped to look at the two
dead lions. They were magnificent animals,
both Of them, but their pelts were entirely
spoiled by tho terrible mauling they had
given to each other, which was q sad pity.
sin another minute we were following the
blood spoor of the wounded lioness into the
bush, where she had taken refuge. This, l
need hardly say, 70 did with the utmost
caution; indeed, l for one, did not at all like
the job, and was only consolcd by the re-
Election that it was necessary, and that the
bush was not thick. Well, we stood there,
ieeninn NJ far from flf. Arnns nc .,osuiL1o