San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-27

head, its restless eyes flashing and long tail
lashing the rock, stood a large mountain lion.
For one brief, terrible moment 10 stood as
If frozen to the spot. He could see the ami
mails large, cat like eyes fixed upon him, and
the big paws reaching out along the rocks as
it glided slowly and noiselessly toward him.
10 had never encountered one of these ami
mails before, though he knew what 1t was at
a glance and recognized the fact that he was
in the most deadly peril He he'd no means
of defending himself and escape was impossi-
BILE if it should attack him.
The only weapon in his possession was
pocket knife. but an attempt to defend him
self with such a frail means Of defense against
the attack of such an animal was worse than
useless ~
He knew by its movements that the lou
was making preparations to spring upon him.
He cast hurried glance about him, but no
where could he see any avenue of escape. A
feeling of terror and despair came over him.
Slowly the savage beast crept along the
edgeNof the ledge and then it lay fiat on the
rocks, its eyes flashing, its whole frame trem-
ulous with suppressed ferocity.
10 knew then that it was going to spring,
and at that very instant a daring resolution
seized him The rope was in his hand, and
Just as the animal sprang out into the air to-
ward him 10 leaped over the edge, still hold
ing fast to the rope.
Far out over the dizzy height, like huge
pendulum, he swung, and as he did 80 he slid
rapidly down the rope, and when he swung
back to the face of the cliff he was a dozen
feet below where he had stood, and under
meath the shelving rocks, out of reach of the
animal above
But his action had not been moment too
soon, for at the very instant he leaped over
the cliff the lion shot downward with hor-
rible growl and lit OF the very spot where 10
had been standing
10 heard the angry growl and uttered
brief prayer of thankfu!nesS for his miracu-
lous escape
Now that he was out of reach Of the fierce
beast he felt a sense of security, but it was
only of moments duration, for in swinging
against the face of the cliff he found there
was no place where he could gain the slight
est foothold, and was compelled to sustain
his entire weight by clinging to the rope with
his hands.
He knew that it would lie impossible to
hold to the rope any great length of time
His arms would tire out and then
He grew sick and dizzy at the thought. In
his despair, hardly knowing what he did, he
shouted for help, though he knew how next
to impossible it was that any one could hear
him, or even if they did, how could they
reach him before it was too late2
He listened, but only the echo Of his own
voice came in answer to his call. He could
hear the soft footballs of the lion overhead as
it moved restlessl y about.
Some small rocks near the brink, becoming
detached, fell over the cliff and struck on the
rocks below with faint echo.
10 felt his arms grow weaker and weaker.
He turned his eyes to where the sun was
streaming over the rocks. How bright and
warm it was, and its very brightness seemed
a mockery to his despair and helplessness.
If he only had some place to rest his feet
if there was only loop in the rope.
Here be made a joyful discovery. There
was loop in the lower end of the rope! He
had made a loop in it himself before lowering
it down, thinking he might find it necessary.
He quickly let himself down little, when
his feet were on level with the loop. Then
he thrust his right foot into it. This gave
| him a chance to rest his arms by releasing
! them of most of the weight that they had
been compelled to sustain.
He breathed easier now. He was in no i'm,
mediate danger, and felt that he could main
tain his present position for little while al
| least
a flock of wild ducks flew swiftly by him
and settled down in the river quarter of a
mile away. A cricket sang its shrill refrain
in the rocks overhead, and the sound of water
rushing among the powders hundred feet
below came family to his ear and sent cold
SILVER through him. How long would he
| have to wait till some means of escape should
| present itself3
Even with his foot resting in the loop, his
position was a trying one to his strength, and
could not be maintained for any great length
| of time.
He could still hear the great cat moving
about ON the rock occasionally.
He turned his gaze upward, and as he did
| so he caught sight of the end of the fuse
| dangling over the side of the ledge, and reach
| ing down three or four feet below the pro
| lection.
sudden daring resolve entered Joe's mind.
| He would fire the fuse and explode the powder
| in the crevice above.
He felt sure this would succeed in driving
the lion from his position.
He could fire the fuse by climbing up a few
| feet, and then return to his present place of
temporary security, where he would be shell
tered from the flying rocks But another
| thought came to him.
What if some of the rocks blown from the
cliff should strike the rope and sever it!
The thought startled him. But then he re-
membered his father in blasting in the well
had often left the rope in without its being
injured in any way.