The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-06-26

moved night after night by wild beas",
and company OF cavalry unable to CIV.
them protection seemed 'increhioie' y'''
such was the case.
At'lepgth a happy thought struck me;
~ tell you what will do, said' II
will, send the company in charge OF me
sergeant about FIVE miles further down
tho river to encamp; then Will oring
Curley with me. and we gill -t-- .--cc
tonight with you. Curley is an old
frontiersman, and is acting guide for me;
r-----~ r~-,>. -"v', an" WIN euJoy tne
sport.
My pre- 2osal was joyfully accepted,
and returned to camp to give the Dec-
cssary directions. About an hour later
the company moved out AMI Curicy and
[ were alone.
"What sort OF an outfit is that down
there" said my companion, pointing to
the stone mansion had recently left.
al cannot tell you," / answered. "The
people say they are worried by the lions,
and have told them you and l will stay
with them tonight and sample few. "
'Some escaped jailbird, 1 suppose,
said Curley. "The country's full OF
them
eyes, I 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 gentleman, and his wife seems more
than ordinarily refined"
"Wcll," said Curlcy, "if they will
trot out the lions we don't care what
they are"
With that VIC started toward the rock
The California lion may have legfti.
mate name, but this is tho only one have
| ever heard applied to him. He belongs
to the panther aud wildcat families, be
| ing, believe, cross between the two
They gdve us coffee, bread and fried
bacon for supper, and our host surprised
and delighted us by producing from his
trunk some cigars. Not lamp nor q
candle of any description did they have.
When darkness came on they went to
bed or on watch, rs the case might be.
We told them all to retire whenever
they felt disposed, and they wanted not
n second bidding. We saw that oul
rifles were in good order and that ouI
ammunition was handy; then we per
mittcd the fire to die out.
Not long did we wait; we had not
been on guard more than half an hour
when Curlcy whispered to me. ."Did
you see thnt thing sneaking up hcre2"
I had already seen it, but it was only
II coyote, so | said: ''It is nothing but Il
| coyote. We must not shoot; it will
} frightcn the lions"
! = l..
"But how about this Senator that is ap
| preaching"
| Sure enough, here came n large lion
| walking proudly along, scarcely thirt.
yards from us.
"Do not fire." said Curlcy. "Wai
uutil we get more OF them.
A few minutes later four large lion.
were in our Immediate front. The maj
had certainly told the truth thus far
whatever his intention rs to farming
might be.
"You take the one on tho left and III
take the one on the right" said Curley
"Arc You ready"
"Rcady," " replied.
"Fircl"
of the startled sleepers were almost
! tlism,""1"oWtcw NHhoMsf cafffldsass" Yfiht'
my rifle and fired at air escaping lion
but doubt if injured him We re
built the fire and dragged two fine speci
mems of the brutes where its light woulC
allow us to inspect them. he'd shct on,
through the heart and Curly had sent
bullet through the brain of the other.
! 81 think we had better leave then
outside" said GIrIey 1.-THE others vii
scent -thc blood and com. back :. %
Whether they scented the blood o.
not, am not prepared to say, but back
they certainly came We wnited until o
good opportunity offered, and Then, at a
given signal fired again; two more large
lions fell, and 0iitley succeeded in load
ing aud shooting Que thai WAS endeavor.
ing to escape. This MADE five that W,
i,a'l killed Afts,. nsatahins another hotu
without any result, We made up the fire
and stept until suurise. The little family
were oNcrj"ycd at 'beholdinY our night,
work, and succeeded in convincing us o.
their sincere gratitude.
After breakfast Nurley skinned the FIVE
animals and gallautly presented the pelt.
to the young wife. AS we bade good-by
to the rock family he said, ''if you rub ,
little strychniue over these carcasscs and
stake them ut little distance from youl
ranch vou will not be troubled much
longer by lions"
Then, with II cordial farewell, w.
nr""cci,,; ,iuwn the river to oyertak,
the command. -Dryic's .Wyosine.
Dina Nnf In nio Iunru