The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-13

hunting anu HtsNtl!OtiIt VI l4SuSii4hB ~
them, when it came Old Zen Jarvis
time to speak.
"I'll tell You what, fcllcrs," said he
I've heard OF some pretty tall hunts
and adventures in other parts OF the
country, but old Tom Green County car
discount them all when it comes down
TO real adventure ard true fan. Did
ever tell you about the time when VIC
herded band OF deer and actually
drove them into the corral of tho homo
ranch on Soap Root creek?:r
no, you never did" exclaimed hal
q dozen voices in a chorus. Let's hear
IL now"
"Wcll, here's how 1t goes: Four lads
and myself had been out all day scour'
ing the prairie in search of stray steers,
when about noon-time (the sun was
awful hot we struck the bottom lands
Of the Upper Concho river. Here vas
timber and here wss shade. We
plunged into the friendly shelter and
had ridden along about two hundred
yards when one of the boys, says he: i
smell blood.' Every rein was tight
sned and we came to q dead halt. 80
do /, said another. Then we rode on
slowly and cautiously, and pretty soon
came to sort OF clearing, where a sight
met US that made the whole crowd
shiver. In tho middle was the dead
body of u large deer and upon him
crouched n monster MeZican lion, who
was. branching the bones and sucking
the blood of his victim. We kept out
OF sight and watched the proceedings,
for it was no use 30 interfere now, as We
could sec tho buck was dead, his antlcrs
covered with blood and gore, and il few
ugly gashcs in the hide of the lion told
that the better animal had evidently
fought bravcly for his life before he
gave 1t UP.
Quietly and quickly Bin Newman
and myself unslung our rifles, charged
them, adjusted the sights and then took
dead aim at tho big brute. counted
one, two, and was just going to cay
three when, like ten thousand demons,
a series of roars and howls rent the
forest, which 50 frightened our
mustangs that every mothers son
Of US came near being pitched
cut OF our saddles. What in
Christopher was that" said Bill
Newman, lowering the muzzle Of hts
gun. The answer came quick enotgh.
Like fash sprang aDsClor big Mcxi-
can lion from the branch or IN over
hanging limb and pounsed full upon
the other one who was enisHgcd upon his
feast. tell you. boys, it vas a eirces
from that lAinute. Those lions weEe
nothing moro thsa two lnosstrous cats,
and they fought like cats. cautioned
the others. now that VIC could not help
the deer, to keep still and watch it out.
They were so evenly matched in size,
strength and agility that It was an open
question which one would come out
winner.
One seized tie hindquarters with his
ugly claws and the other dug his sharp
nails into tho shoulders of the poor
deer. They snarled and fought and
scratched and pulled until the buck was
torn limb from limb, ana then they
dropped the carcass and went at each
other in terrific manner. Over md
over they rolled, the air all the time be-
ing filed with fur, like flakes of snow
from the clouds, and st last they closed
in a deasli grip which meant the ami
hilation Of one or the other and perhaps
both.
'sTho big fellow from the tree, how.
ever, had the advantage, for the shocli
of his leap had nearly parafyzed the
first one. lie was fresher ard in better
condition, and finally succeeded in get
grip on his advorsary's throat, which
nothing could shake or loosen but the
under lion was not conquered yet, fol
he swung his powerful paw around with
such force, striking his enemy such {
terrific blow on tho head that it sent the
latter spinning away Ikea top. He fel
all in heap on the ground and lay there
too stunned and dazed to get up.
'Nhat did the other one do now9'
asked ono of The listeners, with interest
"What. did he do?a repeated Old Jar
Wis. why, he didn't do nothing
That blow with the paw just settled
him. Tho other lion had such tigh
grip on his throat that when he VIC
Knocked away be didn't have time to.lo
60; AMI Tao consequence was that h
actually carried away in his jaws
zig piece OF lis oEcn1y'a throat. II
killed himself, you might say, but b
elmost killed the other follow, too
Why, the crack of that blow sounds
| like pistol shot and must have brok
the poor DEVILS skull. The whac.
could have been heard halfa mile away
Well, there was no danger now, SO "
rode up to the lion, but he was too ia
gone to show fight. He acted sort
craze like, rolling about and wali,iine
but he couldn't get to his feet; 80 ere
the hoys cooled h;s gun, piaoed tn
muzzle behind the lions ear, and bic
the life out of him.
"But how about the band of deer 70
lherded, and which you started IN {
tell about?n asked another Of his Ii:
lteners.
Hold on, pard," said jarvis "Pl
lijust coming to that part. The shot ths
/ killed the lion had no sooner stoppe
i echoing than there was great rustl1n
and crashing in the thicket just oil
the left. Two of the boys sEirmishe
carefully in that direction, and can
beck in ewsminutes reporting that
band of deer was running about e:
citedly and il crazy mamie
Spread out, boys whispered
Hand we'll round 'em up. Y
did that, and pretty SOON ga
formed circle. in 5shp usadie Of Wfts