Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-07-10

| tHeTe uOWleu Oil Udyilgnt, Wucn tnSy
returned to the mountain.
They told me it was necessary for one
of them to be up all night to keep the
fire burning, which was their only pro-
lection from these monsters.
Consequently they had taken turns sit
ting up nights for the last three months.
| Having listened to graphic descrip-
tion of their far-from- pleasant neighbors,
I teld them frankly that if had pis-
tol or carbine of my own I would will
| ingly lend or give them one, but all the
weapons in the command, even those on
my person, belonged to the Government,
and that the orders respecting them were
so stringent that was utterly unable to
accommodate them.
'Ihad apistol when came here" said
| my host, "but l lost it crossing the
river. Since then you are the first per-
son that has been this way"
l felt really sorry for him, and also
felt that they might think had given a
very iimsy reason for refusing the loan
they asked.
That three human beings should be an
noyed night after night by wild beasts,
and a company of cavalry unable to give
them protection seemed Incredible, yet
such was the case.
AT length happy thought struck me.
'I tell you what will do" / said. 81
will send the company in charge of the
Sergeant about five miles further down
the river to encamp; then l will 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 good shot, and will enjoy the
sport.
My proposal was joyfully accepted,
and returned to camp to give the nee
essary directions. About an hour later
the company moved out AMI Curley and
were alone.
"What sort of an outfit is that down
there3" said my companion, pointing to
the stone mansion l 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, l suppose, !"
said Curley. ''The country's full of
them
"Ycs," 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"
"Well," said Curley, ''if they will
trot out the lions we don't care what
they are"
With that we started toward the rock.
The California lion may have legiti-
mate name, but this is the only one have
ever heard applied to him. He belongs
to the panther and wildcat families, be-
ing, believe, cross between the two.
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 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
q 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 sec that thing sneaking up herel"
l had already seen it, but it was only
coyote, so l said: ''It is nothing but
coyote. We must not shoot; it will
frighten the lions"
II believe you are right, said Curley.
''But how about this Senator that is ap-
proaching9"
Sure enough, here came large lion,
walking proudly along, scarcely thirty
yards from us.
"Do not fire." said Curley. swat
until 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,
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.
care you ready"
Ready" l replied.
sFire!"
The report of our rifles and the screams
of the startled seepers were almost
simultaneous; the three were sleeping
and the shots naturally started
them. | threw another cartridge into
my rifle and fired 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 Curly had sent
bullet through the brain of the other.
II 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, | 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 load
ing and shooting one that was endeavor-
ing to escape. This made five that we