San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-28
non. wnere was he, ana what was he

ENOb TOuS away, iSpllSu
u thin, wiry fellow, with a nose as big as a
goose egg and as fat as it was big, who was
called Agra. II speak the truth. He was
asleep on a rock in the sun"
What luck m snorted Hecklinger in rage
"You yell and scare him away, may be-
Come, let us go look"
We immediately advanced, the old German
and Agra leading the way. We carried our
| rifles ready for instant use in case Of need,
and kspG keen watch in every quarter.
The underground was pretty dense and the
groung rough, but we got along well enough
Until ne reached an opening in the forest
where little spring bubhled up in rocky
basin, surrounded by creepazs and low bushea
A smooth, fat rock was on the opposite
side, and on this Agra said the lion had been
asleep
But no lion was in sight.
80" said the German, there's where the
creature comes to drink. Now, if we had
plenty of time to wait, he might come back,
butt
The hunter looked intently across the open
ing for moment.
"Ahl there is beaten track yonder, and
listen! listen"
defined tread little way up the path. 1t
sounded like the footsteps of a heavy man
walking deliberately.
Old Hecklinger raised his finger as signal
for silence cooking his rife at the same mo-
ment, and whispering:
Its the lion"
We were greatly excited, and Agra, no
ticed, dropped yard or two behind us. The
rest of the natives were still in the bushes to
the rear They were evidently prudent lot.
THE beast is going away" said the Ger
man, presently, dropping the hammer of his
rifle. "No-he has stopped, think"
Listening moment, he added:
Waltz
With that, the old fellow passed on tiptoe
around the spring, and entering upon the
path, disappeared from view in the bushes
whilst we awaited results with the greatest
anxiety.
Quarter of an hour passed, but the German
did not return, and we began to feel appre-
hensive for his safety, and to wonder at his
prolonged absence.
A rustling in the bushes close at hand star
tied us bit, and we eyed the spot with great
eagerness, the skipper finally remarking:
II wish the German would return! Con-
found It'll this is more than we bargained for,
my boy! Suppose that beast should take it
into his head to pop out of those bushes at
this very"-
shout caused the skipper to leave his
sentence unfinished. 1t came from up the
beaten pathway, and the voice was that of
the old hunter; but it was muffled sort of
cry, Indicative of surprise, and possibly q
pain.
In a second Agra had leaped past us and
ran up the path, and we followed at full
speed, not knowing what 81 should en-
counter, but confident that old Hecklinger
needed our help.
We overlook Agra fifty yards up the track
He had halted and was listening intently.
Again we heard the cry for help, very
faint, and seemingly far away to the left of
the pathway.
Agra plunged into the bushes, with us at
his heels and in a moment we halted abruptly
on the brink of huge pit in the ground, at
the bottom of which we discovered the hun
ter, making frantic but Intellectual efforts to
climb out
We gave him help and quickly pulled him
up, when he proclaimed vigorously at his bad
luck.
saw Cuo lOu-i
''but he ran away like a cur, dragging his
tail, as if he was scared to death. And whilst
l was Fastening on, in hopes of getting shot
at the brute, tumbled unawares into that
COMPOUNDED pitt"
II never knew lion would run from q
man." said
(Which shows you are green in the bust
ness" laughed Hecklinger. There's no say
ing what lion or tiger will do, and there's
the danger in hunting them. One day he'll
burst into your camp and carry off an OK be-
fore your very eyes, and the next time you
see him he'll not have the spunk Of a whipped
cur. This creature today is on the scare, and
he'd run from his own shadow; but what
he'd do tonight or tomorrow no one can tell,
only don't think We'll see any tomorrow,
and old Hecklnger chuckled ominously.
He tumbled me into that pit" continued
the hunter, land turn about being fair play,
I'll get him in there before daylight-yah,
yah! 1t was dug for lions long ago, sus-
pect, and we'll make good use of it tonight "
We were greatly pleased to hear the old
hunter talk in this way, for we were now
crazy to capture lion, and there seemed to
be chance of doing it easily, with but little
danger to ourselves.
So word was sent back to the natives, and
on their arrival we set to work to prepare
the pit for the enemy, covering it with slen-
der poles, concealed under green branches.
We then removed all traces Of our work,
and returned to camp for dinner.
Toward shutdown we returned to the pit,
taking with us one Of the least valuable
dogs, which we tied to one of the covering
poles, as bait to tempt the lion during the
night
The poor dog seemed to realize the situa-
tinn for. hn hnnnn To howl most Tita0nSlV &c