, 1888-12-20

was Slightly the bigger, was failing. / am
inclined to think that the wound in his flank
crippled him. Anyway, he began to get the
worst of it, which served him right, as he
was the aggressor. Still l could not helI
feeling sorry for him, for he had fought o
gallant fight, when his antagonist finally got
him by the throat, and, struggle and strike
out as he would, began to shake the life out
OF him Over and over they rolled together
an awe inspiring spectacle, but the yellow
boy would not loose his hold and at length
ISor nIacR name grew TaInI, ms breath came
in great snores and seemed TO rattle in his
nostrils, then he opened his huge mouth
gave tho ghost Of a roar, quivered and was
dead
wv hen he was quite sure that the victory
was his own, the yellow NAMED lion ioosed
his grip and snifFed at his fallen foe. Then
he licked the dead lions eye and next, with
his fore feet resting Oh the carcass, sent up
his own chant Of victory, that went rolling
and pealing down the dark ways OF the night
III all tho gathered ma jaSty of sound And
at this point interfered. Taking q careful
sight at tho center OF his body, in order tc
give the largest possible margin for error, !
fired, and sent $40 express bullet right
through him, and down he dropped dead
upon his mighty foe.
''At that, fairly satisfied with our perform.
Gnccs, VIC slept peaceably till dawn, leaving
Pharaoh to keep watch i'll case any more
lions should take it into their heads t. come
our way.
Nv hen tho sun was fairly up we arose, ard
very cautiously proceeded-at least Pharaoh
and did, for would not allow Harry to
come-to see if we could see anything of the
wounded ioness. She had ceased roaring
Immediately on the arrival of the two lions
and had not made sound since; from which
we concluded that she was probably dead
l WIS armed with my express, and Pharaoh,
in who's hands q rifle was indeed a danger
GUS weapon-to his companions-had an az,
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 the terrible mauling they had
given TO each other, which was a sad pity.
In another minute We were following the
blood spoor OF the wounded EonesS into the
bush, where she had taken refuge. This, |
need hardly say, We did with the utmost
caution; indeed, l for one, did not at all like
the job, and was only consoled by the re-
Election that 1t was necessary, and that the
bush was not thick. Well, we stood there
keeping as far from the trees as possible
and poking and peering about, but no lioness
could we see.
"'She must have gone away somewhere to
die, Pharaoh 1 said in Zulu.
"'Yes, Inkoos' (chie1, he answered, she
has certainly gone away
Hardly were the words out OF his mouth
when heard most awful roar and look
ing round saw the honess emerge from the
very center of u bush just behind Pharaoh,
In which she had been curled up. Up she
went on her hind legs, and as she did 50
saw that ono Of her fore paws was broken.
Up she went, towering right over Pharaoh's
head, as she did so lifting her uninjured
paw to strike him down. And then, before
could get my rifle round TO do anything
to avert the coming catastrophe, the Zulu
did n very brave and clever thing. Realiz-
ing his own imminent danger, he bounded
20 one side, and then, swinging the heavy
ak round hisrhead brought it right down on
her back, severing the vertebrp and killing
her instantaneously. 1t was wonderful to
see her collapse all in heap like an empty
sock
"'My word, Pharaoh. / said, that wsa
well done, and none too ZION
eyes he answered, l: was a good strobe,
Inkoos. Jim-Jim will sI9ep better now
"Then, calling Harry to us, we exapaiYi
tho lioness Sho was old, If one might jI;tge
from her worn teeth, and not very large, out
thicxly made and must have poSsess.a ex-
W il1fO lNCl tOuSt
shot as she was; for, in addition to he. broken
shoulder, my express bullet had blown great
hole in her that one might have pu: one's fist
into.
"Well. that is the story OF sr.s death Of
poor JiIa-Jim and how we avepE I'd it. and it
Is rather interesting in its -.y, because Of
the fight between the two G<ns, OF which /
nsver saw the like i'll all ny experience, and
know something Of lio1@ And their ways"
"And how did you set back to Pilgrims
Restfn asked HuEts, Quatermain when he
had finished his yarl.
"Ah, we had nice job with that, he an
swered like second OK died and so did an
other, ans y, had to get on as best we could
with thu .aree remaining ones harnessed uni
corn fashion, while VIC pushed behind. We
did about four miles q day, and it took us
nearly q month, during the last week of
which we pretty well starved"
81 notice. l said, "that most of your trips
ended in disaster of some sort or another,
and yet you went on making them, which
strikes one as a little queer"
''Yes, dare say; but, then, remember
got my living for many years out Of hunt
ing Besides, half the charm of the thing
lay in the dangers and disasters, though they
wero terrible enough at the time Another
thing is, they were not at all disastrous.
Some time, if you like will tell you n story
of one which was very much the reverse, for
made e., 600 out Of it, and saw one Of the
most extraordinary sights a hunter ever
clapped his eyes on; but itis too late now,
and, besides, I'm tired Of talking about my
ssR. Good night"