Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-08
CAPTURING A KITTEN.
An Adventure with Mountain Li-
 Ons in California.


 One bright day in May, when was about thirteen years old, and my broth CT Charlie was year older, we started out together to visit che children on a farm about four miles distant. Charley walked, his gun on his shoulder, and rode our old white horse, Bob.
 did little more than keep pace with my brother. had been his companion ever since he had been allowed to have a gun. 1 had gone with him on his hunting expeditions to carry the game, and the old horse was often with us on our wanderings through the woods.
 We lived on large farm high up among the mountains of the coast range of California. The country was very sparsely settled, and visit to a ncighbor meant a jaunt of several miles. l had learned to shoot we'll, but as we had but one gun, and Charley was q boy, he usually claimed the right to the gun when we went hunting.
 The moutains were full of deer, wild cats and ''coons." California lions and panthcrs were occasionally seen, to say nothing of rabbits, quail and such small game.
 On this day we left the house at about nine o'clock. We trudged and logged pleasantly along, but Charley did not kill even a squirrel, and took pains to tease him about his bad luck.
 We spent the day with our young friends, and started on our return at about four o'clock in the afternoon.
 After we had left the main road and taken the trail toward home, Charley f11r1,aI off i1tn l, f,~ 4 deem his reputation as a hunter. might have followed him, but was in haste to get home. So I touched up old Bob with my whip, and jogged along down the lonely bridIe path.
 Just as I was following bend in the road, a mile and a half beyond the place where Charley and had parted, something attracted my attention in what appeared to be a pile of leaves beddcd in the hollow roots of a great oak. The object appeared to shine.
 I turned my horse toward it to get a closer view, and then discovered that the shining came from the bright eyes of several beautiful little creatures which I at first took to be large kit tens; but when I dismounted 1 found that they were the cubs of mountain lion!
 was delighted. I had always had a fondncss for kittens, and these little animals were much prettier than any kitten. They were plump and most beautifully marked. They got up and began to gambol and play with each other in the most innocent and en- Gaging manner.
 What ideal pets! Instantly the tht,,1rr,t f,N them and take them home?" Here would Ee glory for me, to be sure. How 1 would triumph over Charley!
 1 stopped over and picked up two of them; there were four in all.
 l Had much difficulty in mounting my horse with the baby lions in my arms, for they wriGTled and scratched and did everything in their power to prevent me from carrying them off; but at last 1 was in the saddle, and started off. Fortunately my horse knew the road and was perfectly safe; so I merely threw the bridle over my arm, and held crying kitten in each hand.
 How they did meow and squall! First one and then the other, and then duet.
 All at once, in the midst of all this , | across my mind that the mother would probably come home, and finding two | of her babies gone, go in quest of them; and here l was, creeping along on slow old horse, three miles from home, with two young lions. It was about 1 time to wake up old Bob!
 1 looked for my whip. It was gone Probably had dropped it in my at | tempts to mount.
 Here was new difficulty. It was | impossible for me to get off and on again with the big kittens in my arms, and the old horse would trot along for only few steps, and then subside in- to bis usual slow walk. It was only by dint of hard kicking and fierce jerk ing of the bridle that I contrived to get 1 him into an occasion fair trot. We had gone about mile farther, 1 and I was cufing one of my kittens in- to submission, when I heard what I fancied was a growl behind me. turned, but could see nothing. Nevertheless, I felt little nervous and kicked my feet against the horses | sides more vigorously than ever. We went on about two rods, when I heard the same noise again. This time I thought that l could not be mistaken, and 1 was not. Turning, I saw, to my | horror, that large California lioness was coming at dead run not one hun | dred yards behind me.
 Every few steps she uttered horrid growl, and she looked really fiendish. My heart stood still, but did not give up. Old Bob, too, heard the noise, and