The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-06

krairie in search Of stray steers, whom about
|oon time (the sun was awful hot) We
Eruck the bottom lands Of the Upper Con-
Tho river. Here was timber, and here was
phade. We plunged into the friendly shel-
er, and had ridden along about 200 yards
|loodp Every rein was frightened, and we
hme to dead halt. so do r. said another.
Then We rode on slowly and cautiously, and
lretty soon came to sort Of clearing, where
sight met uA that made the whole crowd
Ehiver. In the middle was the dead body Of
large deer. and upon him crouched
honster Mexican lion, who was crunching
be bones and sucking the blood of his vic
i'm. We kept out Of sight and watched the
Proceedings, for it was no use to interfere
|ow, a. we could see the buck was dead,
is antlers covered with blood and gore,
Ind few ugly gashes in the side of the lion
old that the better animal had evidently
Ought bravely for his life before he gave it
"Quietly and quickly Bill Newman and
Myself unslung our rifles, charged them,
adjusted the sights and then took dead aim
i the big brute. I counted one, two, aud
Eas just going to say three, when, like ten
thousand demons, a series of roars and
owls rent the forest, which 80 frightened
ur mustangs that every mothers son Of Us
anne near being pitched out Of our saddles.
What in Christopher was that?' said Bill
{ewman, lowering the muzzle Of his gun.
Fhe answer came quick enough. Like q
ash Eprang another big Mexican lion from
he branch of an overhanging limb and
bounced full upen the other one, who was
ngaged upon his feast. tell, you, boys,
ons were nothing more than two mon
trous cats, and they fought like cats. I
cautioned the others, owthat we could not
}elp the deer, to keep still and watch it
ut. They were 30 evenly matched in size,
trength and agility that it was an open
Question which ono would como out win
Ter.
| One seized the hin dquarters with his ugly
Flaws and the other dug his sharp nails into
he shoulders Of the poor deer. They
narled and fought and scratched and
ulled until the buck was torn limb from
NIB, and then they dropped the carcass and
rent at each other in a terrific manner
ver and over they rolled, the air all the
me being filled with fur, like flakes of
now from the clouds, and at last they
osed in death grip, which meant the
humiliation of one or the other and per
APPS both.
1The big fellow from the tree, however.
ad the advantage, for the shock Of his leap
nd nearly paralyzed the first one. He was
,lsher and in better condition, and finally
lfy's throat, which nothing could shake
loosen; but the under lion was not con-
nered yet, for he swung his powerful paw
round with e1ch force, striking his enemy
pch terrific Glow on the head that it sent
be latter spinning away like top. He fell
i in heap on the ground and lay there,
b stunned and dazed to get up"
What did the other one do now?' asked
ne Of the listeners, with interest.
What did he do2" repeated Old Jarvis.
Why. he didn't do nothing. That blow
it'll the paw Just settled him. The other
on had such tight grip on his throat that
hon he was knocked away he didn't have
me to let 60; and the consequence was
hat he actually carried away in his jaws
msRs but Ss smoss l Ied
10 other fellow, too: Why, the crack of
bat blow sounded like pistol shot and
lust have broke the poor DEVILS skull. The
hack could have been heard half a mile
way. Well, there was no danger now, so
rode up to the lion. but he was too far
pine to show fight. He acted sort Of crazy
e, rolling about and whining. but he
Pcked his gun, placed the muzzle behind
le lions ear, and blew the life out Of him.
but how about the band of deer you
Prded, and which you started in to tell
boot2" asked another of his listeners.
s'Hold on, pard," said Jarvis; ''I'm Just
Pming TO that part. The shot that killed
e lion had no sooner stopped echoing than
70 thicket just off to the left. Two of the
Pys skirmished carefully in that direction.
hd came back in few minutes reporting
at band OF deer was running about ex-
tedly and IN crazy manner. Spread
y, boys, whispered !, and we'll round
% up We did that, and pretty soon had
rmed circle, in the middle of which were
Is beautiful deer that looked like dream.
cts get 'em out on the prairie suggested
bwman, and perhaps we can get q chance
rope 'em." Opening out Ike q fan. We
erted the animals moving, and, would you
lieve it, they seemed in no hurry to get
ray. but drove along like steers. What's
Prker. Z think I know answered New
an. Here's i've deer, and little while
o there was six in the band. They must
i've been standing in the woods when the
st lion jumped on one. Of 'em, and so
ared the others that they lost their senses
d couldn't run. But we've got 'em now,
~, and believe by q little careful hand
hs V can get the whole Of 'em soped.'
sOut OF the woods W came and on to the
ei1ie. The boys spread out, covering
til tanks. 10 that If any of the deer at
mpted TO break away he Was driven back.
mebody proposed not to rope 'em but to
i've 'em home and corral 'em. We did
d very thing. When Ne got the animals
the open, We headed 'em towards home
d soon had 'em ON trot. We met q
sxjcan boy Who was herding our sheep,
d right into hia flock We drove the i've
er. They seemed sort O pleased to get
bong the sheep, and did mot want to run
ny. Sanding the boy ahsad on q mustang
open tAe corral gates ~ took charge Of
herd ourselves and soon bad them start
towards the CORRAL They graxed slowly
png. shesp and deer mixed together.
d gradually No got them near the
-. When within 100 yards We COM
P0oed business in earnest. The Mexican
= Vas now hack with -, and Ne told him
afve his peeulia1 Whoop which ~ sheep
- % veil He oaWlsd and screechsd in
exicep. waved his BLANKET, sad In less
-. "a &hs ahssp bad taksn 70 thsiE
y, Daly ClasA 'alloping hks ned towards
I'D faatsg thsy went.
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