Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-28

and a company Of cavalry unable 20 give
them proteCtisn, seemed Incredible, yet
such was the case.
AT length happy thouSht struck me,
Il tell YOU what will do, | said,
will send the company IN charge OF the
sergeant about 1--WE miles further down the
river to epcamp; then will bring turley
with me, and we will stay here to night
with you. Curley is an old frontiers man
nna is acting guide for me. He Is n good
shot. ANA Will enjoy the sport
My proposal was Joytuliy accepted, and
| returned 10 camp to give the necessary
directions. About an hour later the CON-
pany moved ont and Curley and | were
alone,
"Whot SOFT Of an outfit is that down
lhere?" sand my companion, pointing to
/ the stone mansion had recently left,
Il can not 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 juilbird, | suppose, "
said Curey The country is tull OF
| them
Yes, " answered, the country is full
I of them. but | am sure this man Is no
criminal. His manner and his appear
ance. 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 hons 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 belongs
/ to the panther and wildcat families, being,
/ | believe, a cross between the two,
They gave us coffee, bread and fried ba,
con for supper, and our host surprised and
delighted us by producing from his trunk
some cigars. Not lamp nor a 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 second
bidding. We saw that our rifles were IN
good order and that our ammunition was
handy, then we permitted the hire to burn
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 sneaking up here?'
had already seen it, but it was only
COYOTE. so | said "lts nothing but
coyote. We must not shoot; it will frighsen
the lions"
Il believe you are right" said Curley
but how about this senator that is op'
proaching?" Sure enough, here came II
large lion walking proudly along, scarcely
thirty yards from us.
DO not FIRE, " said Curley. wait un
til we 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, what
ever his intention Us to farming might
be.
You take the one on the left and III
take the one on the right, v said Curley.
Are you ready I,
Ready" | replied.
FIRE.
The report of our rifles and the screams
of the startled seepers were almost stimuli
taneous; 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 II |
injured him. We rebuilt the fire and
dragged two fine specimens 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.
Il think we had better leave them out
side, " said Curley; "the Others will scent
the blood and come back.
Whether they scented the blood or not
am not prepared to say, but back they, GER
tainly came. We waited until a good OPP.
portunity offered, and then at given sig
NIL fred again; two more large lions fell,
and Curley succeeded in loading and shoot
ing one that was endeavoring to escape.
TFis made FIVE that we had killed. After
watching another hour without any result,
we made the fire and slept until sun
rise The little family were overjoyed at
beholding our last nights work and sue
ceeded in convincing us of their sigcere
gratitude.
After breakfast Curey skinned the' five
animals and gaIlantly presented the felCs
to the young wife AS we babe good bye
to the rock family he said: III yOu rub a
little strychnine over these carcasses and
stake them at some little distance from
your ranch you will not be tror bled much
longer by the lions
Then with = cordial farewell we pro
ceeded down the river to overtake the COM
mand.
TELEGRAPUlNG.