Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-01-14


other, probably its mate, had stood
by AS the hunters paused here the
loud barking of the dogs was heard at
some little distance, SO clapping spurs
TO the ponies the party went forward
at a gallop
The hounds were found to have
gathered about small heap Of earth
and stones, on which stood an enor-
nous mountain lion defying them
with blazing eyes and waving tufted
tail. lie was magnificent male, with
tawny skin marked with vclvoty black, a
bearing as full of pride as any monarch
of'Arabian desert and roar that woke
the echoes in the mountain gcages far
above his defiant head The yellow
smoothness of his 81 dc was broken by
a jagged wound outlined in dark clot-
ted blood, but his courage was un.
dauntcd by the yclping pack of dogs
that surrounded him, making false
starts at him, yet afraid to attack him.
OF his mate nothing was to be seen.
The hunters, each anxious to claim the
lion as his trophy, pressed forward
and, aiming over tho surglng mass of
hounds, fired upon the majestic crca-
turc facing death so resolutcly.
Wounded in half a dozen plac es, the
lion sprung into the air with scream
of agony and rage, then fell, to DO in
stantly covered by the dogs, barking
in triumph over defeated foe But
they had flattercd themselves too soon
that the prey was theirs, for with a
desperate courage the lion struck out
right and left, sending his enemies
heels over head with blows of his pow
erful paws and ripping and tearing
with his unshcathcd claws and giant
molars, Their red blood mingled with
his own and dyed the sand crimson,
and they gave back for an instant, un-
til, seeing that the mountain king
was dying even as he fought, they re-
turned to the battle. ..t.
But as they fell upon him roar
from the frowning heights Of the
mountains proclaimed that another foe
was at hand The mate was returning
and had scented the battle from
afar. In another moment she leapcd
into view, pausing on the pinnacle of a
tall spire of rock and surveying the
scene below with an angry cant of her
sleek, cat-like head Outlined against
the tender blue of the morning sky she
seemed a yellow carving of yellow
marble, but only for brief moment,
for as her topaz eyes caught sight OF
her dead mate and the frantic dogs,
she sprung down to tine crag next be-
meath her, just as a volley Of shots
shattered the extreme end of the
one she had that instant left.
She descended with magnificent bounds
that sent her 1.-the body from peak to
peak with incredible rapidity, paying
not the slightest apparent attention to
the dogs or the hunters and seeming
only to see the fallen monarch below.
She reached the little gorge where he
lay. A second volley had failed to stay
her as she came bounding down, but
now third greeted her as she sprung
from the last spur of rock, and gush
of crimson blood marked where some
bullet had found homo in her quiv.
ering flank.
Then for the first time she seemed tc
notice her human foes, and leaping tc
the side of her dead mate faced them
with roar Of defiance, even as she
bent her head and licked the bloody
carcass at her feet. The dogs, taking
this for sign of timidity, flew at her
ferociously, but the lioness, rendered
furious and reckless by her mates
death, met this attack with q savage
determination that sent sever al away
yelping, wounded severely, anG
stretc he'd others dad, while all hesi
tated to continue the fight.
Turning once more to her dead COM
panion she bestowed one loving cares,
on his stiffened form and then faced
the mountain, and would have sprung
away had not the hunters who had
feared to fire upon her before lest they
wound the dogs instead, here succeeded
in breaking one of her shoulders by q
single shot out of a score. She fell for
ward with cry and rolled over on th'
yellow sands that drank her blood
Once more the dogs attacked her, ant
though she fought like a fury will
tooth and nail they mastered her.
Again and again she endeavored tc
right herself, only to fall forward or
the broken bone, while her determined
foes tore at her limbs and sought he
slender throat. The hunters cndeav
ored to call off the frantic hounds, bu
they could not be induced to leave thei
prey, to which they c'ung until th'
beautiful wild creature lay dead anc
mangled beside her atc.-Galen'
| Mex Cor. of Philadelphia Times.