The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-31

had
OF course tks little lions had caught
The sound They neowcd and cried
| louder than ever. This excited the
mother the more and she redonbled her
Rsowls
dared not look aronnd. but very
soon II wnA not necessary for me %
turn In order 10 rec her She was right
By my side. and RIaring a me in NE
most frightfuI manner
There was nothing else 70 do; tool
one Of the kittens and threw IL at the
mother lion; and threw Il very hard.
hitting her full In the face
fully believed that the old Iionea
would keep on and compel me 70 Rive
up the other young one also. and wns
astonishcd 70 see her seize this one In
her mouth and make on a. fast AZ pos
sible toward her lair.
This was very pleasing. but was
perfectly certain that the old iioncss
would come back after the remaining
ono. And unless could get home,
which was not probable, OF should
meet some one who had gun, which
was not probable. either. she would
get it away from me-
shouted louder still at old Bob, and
almost stood mp In the saddle In my en-
element; but the poor old horse was
already going about a. fast a. he
could 60 He seemed 70 appreciate the
emergency. but he was getting badly
winded
We went on about threc-qnarters Of
mile more II occurred 10 me that
might keep the kitten from continually
announcing our whereabouts 70 lie
mother. 50 propped It's mouth wide
open with my fingers, and this stopped
its crying.
We were making pretty good time. 1
and was beginning 10 feel little re-
assured. when heard the leaves crack
ling behind rue. knew what was
coming and did not look around kept
on, determined to hold the kitten at all
hazards.
Very soon, however. heard the old
lloness much closer than had expect
ed. and turned around Just 1t the mo
mept that my horse made a violent
plnnge forward The lioness had dug
her forefeet into the horses thighs, Pre-
pnratory To lea ping upon his back.
With a terrified scream | fang the
kitten away W it'll al my might The
lioness released her hold on the horse,
and, taking this kitten in her month as
she had taken the other. uttered
growl. and. with q savage glare at me,
disappeared In the thick under brush.
Trembling with fright and choked
with Indignation 10 think that after all /
my efforts ! could not keep even one Of
the pretty little creatures, continued
my ride home
reached the gate soon. and ia few
moments related my adventure at the
suppcr-tablc. Before had finished
Charley burst into the room, holding
aloft q young lionl
My heart bounded. He had captured
my kittenf In great excitement he be
gan % tell his story. He was just re
turning 70 the trail from his hunt in
the woods, when he met face to face
the mountaih lioness bearing her young
one In her mouth, Roth were very
much startled. lioness and boy; but
Charley recovered his presence 81 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
q short distance, He left her Just al
the edge Of the woods and ran home
with the living cub to get help
Charley magnanimously gave me the
baby. OF course was n little crest |
fallen. feeling that ] had lost my share
~ . n. 4
complimented, after NIL
/ kept the little lion three years. We
fed him on bread and milk, and as he
grew he showed no signs Of his wild M.
ture. lie played amicably with the dog
and was on gq9d terms with all the
family.
One day, however, unsastencd his
chain to give him exercise, and enc Of
the first things he did was to kill q T
1t was his first taste Of
blood. After that he committed some
whenever he was let loose.
He grew sullen and morose
At last he. bit a little girl who came
70 visit us, drawing blood, which he /
Tapped eagerly. She was alone with 7
him. and when we heard her cry and
ran out we found that the cub had
thrown the child down and was rest
ing hts 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 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 spoils Of
her children's lion hunt Beatrice R.
Moses, in Youths Companion,
sciences snper.edinr cla..In.