The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-25

increased his speed to the best pace he


had.
OF course the little lions had caught
the sound. They mcowed aud cried
louder than ever. This excited the
mother the more and she redoublcd her
growls.
1 dared not look around, but very
soon 1t was not necessary for me to
turn in order to see her. She was right
by my side, and glaring at me in the
most frThtful manner
There was nothing else to do; / took
one OF the kittens and threw it at the
mother lion; and threw it very hard,
hitting her full in the face.
fully believed that the old lioness
would keep on and compel me to give
up the other young ono also, and was
astonishcd to see her seize this one in
her mouth and make off as fast us pos.
sible toward her lair.
This was very pleasing, but / was
perfectly certain that the old lioness
would come back after the remaining
one. And unless 1 could get home,
which was not probable, or should
meet some one who had u gun, which
was not probable, either, she would
get it away from me.
shouted louder still ut old Bob, and
almost stood up in the saddle in my OK.
element; but the poor old horse was
already going about as fast as he
could so. He seemed to appreciate the
emergency, but he was getting badly
windcd.
We went on about threc-quarters of
n mile more. 1t occurred to me that I
might keep the kitten from continually
announcing our whereabouts to its
mother, SO / propped its mouth wide
open with my fingers, and this stopped
its crying
We were making pretty good time.
and 1 was beginning to feel little re-
assured, when heard the leaves crack
ling behind rue. I knew what was
coming and did not look around l kept
on, determined to hold the kitten at all
hazards.
Very soon, however, heard the old
lioness much closer than l had expect
cd, and turned around just at the mo-
mcpt that my horse made violent
plunge forward. The lioncss had dug
her forefcct into the horses thighs, pre-.
paratory to lea ping upon his back
With terrified scream 1 flung the
kitten away w it'll all my might. The
lioncss released her hold on the horse.
and, taking this kitten in her mouth ms
she had taken the other, uttered
growl, md, with savage glare at me,
disappeared in the thick under brush.
Trembling with fright and choked
with Indignation to think tn at after all
my efforts | could not keep even one of
the pretty little creatures, l continued
my ride home.
reached the gate soon, and in few
moments related my adventure at the
supper-table. Before 1 had finished
Charley burst into the room, holding
aloft young lion!
My heart bounded. He had captured
my kitten! In great excitement he be.
gan to tell his story. He was lust re.
turning TO the trail from his hunt in
the woods, when he met face to face
the mountain lioness bearing heryoun
one in her mouth. Both were very
much startled, lioness and boy; but
Charley recovered his presence of mind
first, and, raising his gun, fred, killing
the shelton instantly.
He then picked up the little one, and
also succeeded in dragging the mother
short distance. He left her just at
the edge of the woods and ran home
with the living cub to get help
Charley magnanimously gave me the
baby. OF course 1 was little crest
fallen, feeling that had lost my share
of the glory, but was commended and
complimented, after all
| kept the little lion three years. We
fed him on bread and milk, and as he
grew he showed no signs of his wild ma.
ture. He played amicably with the dog
and was on good terms with all the
family.
One day, however, I unfastened his
chain to give him exercise, and one of
the first things he did was to kill a
chicken. 1t was his first taste of
blood. After that he committed some
depreciation whenever he was let loose.
He grew sullen and morose.
At last he bit little girl who came
to visit us, drawing blood, which he
Tapped eagerly. She was alone with
him, and when we heard her cry and
ran out we found that the cub had
thrown the child down and was rest.
ing his paws on her body.
He was killed at once. felt few
severe pangs at his death, but we saved
his skin. Charley had already tanned
the skin of the mother. We had the
cubs skin treated in the same wav.
and now, when my mother tells the
story of our youthful experience, as
she often does, she points proudly to
the two beautiful robcs--the spoils of
hcr children's lion unt.-Beatricc r.
Moses. in Youths Companion.
Sciences Superscding Classics.
Prof Virchow, who has Just assumed