Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-29


son that has been this way"
felt really sorry for them. and also
felt that they might think had given a
very fimsy reason for refusing the loan
they asked.
That three human beings should be
annoyed night after night by wild beasts
and company of cavalry unable to give
them protection seemed incredible, yet
such appeared to be the case.
AT length happy thought struck me.
Il tell you what | will do" l said. 81
will send the company in charge of the
sergeant about five miles farther down
the river to encamp, then l win bring
Curley with me, and we will stay here
tonight with you. Curley is an old
frontiersman, and is acting guide for me-
He is a good shot, and will enjoy the
sport.
My proposal was joyfully accepted,
and returned to campto give the neces-
sary directions. About an hour later
the company moved out, and Curley and
were alone.
"What sort Of an outfit is that down
there" said my companion, pointing to
the stone mansion had recently left.
81 cannot tell you" answered. "The
people say they are worried by the lions,
and have told them you and will stay
with them tonight and sample few"
"Some escaped jailbird, suppose"
said Curley. "The country's full Of
them"
"Yes," | answered, "the country is
full of them, but am sure this man is
no criminal His manner and his ap-
pearance, barring his clothes, are those
of a gentleman, and his wife seems more
than ordinarily refined"
"Well," said Curley, ''if they will trot
ont the lions for us we don't care what
they are"
With that we started toward the rock.
The California lion may have a legiti-
mate name, but this is the only one
have ever heard applied to him. He be-
longs to the panther and wildcat fam
lilies, being | believe, a cross between
the two.
The animals are much larger than wild
cats, and when hungry are very ferocious.
One is sufficiently powerful to pull down
deer, and two will make short work of
buffalo. Their home is in the noun
tains, but they come to the plains and
down into the canyons in search of food
We spent the afternoon talking with
our new acquaintance, who seemed well
informed on many subjects Curley,
who was not a bad Mexican scholar, car
ried ON brief conversation with the
young wife in her mother tongue. No
clew. however, did he obtain as to her
former history.
They gave us coffee, bread and fried
bacon for supper, and our host surprised
and delighted us by producing from his
trunk some cigars. Not q lamp nor
candle of any description did they have.
When darkness came on they went to
bed or on watch, as the case might be.
We told them all to retire whenever
they felt disposed, and they wanted not
a second bidding. We saw that our
rifles were in good order, and that our
ammunition was handy, then we per-
mitted the fire to die out
Not long did we wait; we had not been
on guard more than half an hour, when
Curley whispered to me, "Did you see
that thing sneal1ing up here?"
had already seen it; but it was only
coyote, so l said, ut is nothing but a
coyote; we must not shoot, it will fright
en- the lions"
81 believe you are right" said Curley.
But how about this senator that is ap-
preaching"
Sure enough, here came large lion
walking proudly along, scarcely thirty
yards from us.
"Do not fire." said Curley. "Wait
until we can get more of them"
A few minutes later four large lions
were in our immediate front. The man
had certainly told the truth thus far,
whatever his intention as to farming
might be.
"You take the one on the left, and I'll
take the one on the right" said Curley.
"Are you ready?"
Ready" I replied.
"Firel"
The report of our rifles and the screams
of the startled sleepers were almost 81
multaneous; the three were sleeping
soundly and the shots naturally startled
them. | threw another cartridge into
my rifle and fred at an escaping lion,
but doubt if injured him. We re-
built the fire and dragged two fine speci-
mems of the brutes where its light would
allow us to inspect them. had shot one
through the heart and Curley had sent
bullet through the brain of the other.
81 think we had better leave them
outside" said Curley; "the others will
scent the blood and come back"
Whether they scented the blood or
not l am not prepared to say, but back
they certainly came. We waited until
a good opportunity offered, and then, at
a given signal, fired again. Two more
large lions fell, and Curley succeeded in
loading and shooting one that was en-
deavoring to escape. This made five
that we had killed. After watching
another hour without any result, we
made up the fire and slept until sunrise.
The little family were overjoyed at be-
holding our nights work, and succeeded
in convincing us of their sincere graft
tude
After breakfast Curley skinned the five
animals and gallantly presented the pelts
to the young wife. AS we bade goodby
to the rock family he said, IF you rub
liftla Of <,,o,. 49,, 1o.ooz.z -.