Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-08
increased his speed to the best pace he


 had.
 Of course the little lions had caught the sound. They meowed and cried louder than ever. This excited the mother the more and she redoubled her R2owls.
 dared not look around, but very soon it 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 frightful manner.
 There was nothing else to do; took one of the kittens and threw it at the mother lion; and I 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 one also, and I was astonished to see her seize this one in her mouth and make off as fast as pos sible toward her lair.
 This was very pleasing, but I was perfectly certain that the old, lioness would come back after the remaining one. And unless I could get home, which was not proba ble, or should meet some one who had q gun, which was not probable, either, she would get 1t away from me.
 shouted louder still at old Bob, and almost stood up in the saddle in my ex- citement; but the poor old horse was already going about as fast as he could go. He seemed to appreciate the emergency, but he was getting badly winded.
 We went on about three-quarters of a mile more. It occurred to me that might keep the kitten from continually announcing our wherea bouts to its mother, so I propped it's mouth wide open with my fingers, and this stopped it's crying.
 We were making pretty good time. and was beginning to feel little re- assured, when heard the leaves crack ling behind me. I knew what was coming and did not look around. I kept on, determined to hold the kitten at all hazards.
 Very soon, however, heard the old lioness much closer than had expect ed, and turned around just at the mo- mept that my horse made a violent plunge forward. The lioness had dug her forefeet into the horses thighs, pre- paratory to lea ping upon his back.
 With terrified scream I flung the kitten away W ith all my might. The lioness role ased her hold on the horse, and, taking this kitten in her mouth as she had taken the other, uttered a growl, an d, with savage glare at me, disappeared in tho 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, continued my ride home.
 Preached the gate soon. and in a few moments related my adventure at the supper-tab1e. Before I had finished Charley burst into the room, holding aloft young lionl
 My heart bounded. He had captured my kittenl In great excitement he be- gan to tell his story. He was just re- turning to the trail from his hunt in the woods, when he met face to face the mountain lioness bearing her young one in her mouth. Both were very much startled. lioness and boy; but Charley recovered his presence of mind first, and, raising his gun, fired, killing the she-lion 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 I was little crest fallen, feeling that I 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 na- 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. It 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. I felt few severe bangs 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 way, and now, when my mother tells the story of our youthful experience, as she often does, she points proudly to the two beautiful robes-the spells of her children's lion hunt. -Beatrice R. Moses. in Youths Companion. Sciences SupOrSedinS Classics. Aoo ]