Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-25
ACROSS THE RAvINE.
A Forced Fight Between an Indian and
Lion,


to have bite to eat. 1t was on the edge
of deep, dark ravine which had a width
of 200 feet. The opposite bank OF the ravine
was much the highest, rising up from
twenty-five TO thirty feet high, and along
it's face was trail. This perhaps had
been made by deer and goat passing from
their feeding grounds. Only about fifty
feet of the trail, and that directly in front
of me, was clear of brush and trees had
my eyes on this open space when an Indian
suddenly stepped into view from the east.
At that date every Indian in that vicinity
was hostile. This one was not in war
paint, but knew he'd shoot on sight. My
first feeling was that of surprise because
he had not vet seen me- | soon saw, how
ever, that he had his head down and was
apparently trailing something. He had
passed almost out of sight to the west
when he suddenly drew up his rifle and
fired.
There was a shrill, savage scream, and
rs the Indian retreated a tawny mountain
lion came into view. Just opposite me the
Indian halted, while the lion crept up to
within twenty feet of him and rested
saw a bloody streak on the animals Shout
der, and as he turned and licked at it his
growls were deep and menacing.
The redskin had only single barreled
rifle, and he made no attempt TO reload.
While the lion turned his head the Indian
laid down his empty rifle and drew his
knife. He was a tall, stalwart fellow. and
he meant to fight for his life.
Hist Hist Hist"'
did it to attract his attention, and next
instant he was looking into my eyes. He
must have been bit astonished, but he
did not betray the fact. His eyes blazed
up, he scowled in a malignant way and
knew that he was cursing his luck in be
ing in such a fix.
Hist Hist! Hist"
1t was louder this time, so as to reach
the ears of the lion he licked at the
blood. He started up with a savage
growl, located me in a flash, and his eyes
blazed and scintillated and almost burned.
He glared at me for twenty seconds and
then turned to the Indian.
mot even a squaw would have gone out
with only one bullet for her rifle | called
to the redskin in the jaTgon we had picked
up around the camp fires
He understood. was sure of II, because
he took his eyes from the beast for five
seconds to flash me such look of hate as
only a fiend Is capable of. The lion was
enraged over his wound, and yet the fierce
and ready attitude OF the Indian made him
hesitate to attack. He crept forward
few feet. growlad, dashed his tail and then
retreated n little
''You are hoping that he won't attack
will make him
rose up and picked up a small stone
and threw it at the beast. Il struck just
behind him. When two dogs are stand
ing growing AT each other missile strik
ing near them viii precipitate a conflict.
The lion leaped distance of five feet
ahead and sunk down and growied moro
fiercely than before and dashed his tail.
You see l have my rii.a here, | called
to the Iudiu, q l lifted the weapon up to
view Il could XII the beast and save
you but ! SAL auf 10 it
He lOoKga .aau on me acai... atI hi
face was 50 distorted with passion that
felt my fiesh creep in spots. What would
he not have given 10 mad me bound fast TO
the stake, with no one 30 .L,eT.er. with his
deviliSh ingenuity Of torture ~ held
his eyes for Ave seconds l read in them
forty years of intense hate for the men OF
my race
''Ah. You are coward shouted at
the lion as he turned his head and looked
back up the trail. You have only squaw
in front of youl One of your cubs year
old could claw him down. Why don't you
finish him before he runs away to boast Of
his bravery
The beast switched his tail in men
acing way as he stared at me, while the
Indian now spoke for the first time, saying:
Before the night comes l will roast
your heart at my fire and eat ltp'
'AhI Then you think the lion is a COW
ard and dares not attack you! Let US see.
If / can hit him with this stone he will
spring upon you. Better throw away your
knife and run for it. SQuaws are fleet of
foot, are they not?''
held the missile in my hand while talk
ing to him. Both Indian and beast were
looking straight at me as threw it. 1t
struck the lion full in the side, and with a
roar and a rush he was upon the savage
The trail did not look to me to be over
three feet wide. The Indian was borne !
backward by the weight of the attack, but
he was quickly .on his knees, and l saw his ,
knife flash as he kept stabbing. He did |
not shout, and the lion uttered no other |
noise except a sort of sobbing.
The fight seemed to last ten minutes, but !
/ doubt if it lasted over three. On fair /
ground the Indian might have beaten the |
beast off or killed it. So, too, on more ad- |
ground the beast might have |
finished the Indian in couple OF minutes.
Of sudden, the two were down on the
path, they rolled over the brink. The In
dams knife was buried to the hilt in the
lions body, while the brute had it's teeth
in his throat. They vanished
from sight in an instant, and as / stood
looking over the brink of that dark chaSm
It seemed a quarter of a minute before
dull crash came up through the gloom
which had hung there for ages to tell that
they were lying dead down there on the
rocky bottom. M QUAD.