The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-12-14

poised it for an instant, and rushed
full tilt ct the PROSTATE creature.
plunging the .gore-stained head OF thn
lance into the body with such force
that Hooked to see the barbcd point
appear on the other side. The lion
spranginto the air, doubling itself near.
ly upin the rigor that ran through it's
frame, then fell with flop upon the
sand, tumbling over oni it's side with the
lance sticking straight up into the air.
as though it pinned it to the earth. 4
few silent struggles convulsed it's Storm.
and then it stitfened out, with it's laws
distended, it's eyes lolling out, it's tail
rigid as q spike-dead as a nail!
I dismounted and FASTENED to as
sist Angus in raising the fallen soldier.
Badly lacerated as the horse was bv
the terrible claws OF the lion, it vet
made shift to stagger to it's feet wien
we laid hold OF it's bride and encour
aged it to rise. The man was confused
and stunned by his fall, and made no
effort to move when we accosted him.
However, after few moments he sat
up, supporting himself on his elbows.
and looking with bewildered air at
the dead lion. Then when, by our aid,
he got upon his feet, he found that he
could stand, though his knees trem-
bled like those OF a man in fit. His
helmet had been crushed and his tun-
ic split, while his nose seemed to be
bleeding little, but beyond the con-
fusion Of his fall he had sustained no
other apparent injury.
GLOW do you feel?" asked my COM
panion. "Any bones broken?''
The man in q dazed manner said he
did not know.
"Here sit down for q while on this
mound. You will feel better directly.
It is your horse which has suffered
most"
The soldier seated himself upon a
little sand-bank, while Angus and |
proceeded to view the dead lion. HI
was huge, massive creature, and
scarcely measured less than eight feet
from the tip OF it's snout to the begin
ming OF it's tail. It's distended jaws
disclosed a double row OF great gleam-
ing grinders, while it's claws, thrust
out between its velvety feet: were AS
keen and nearly as long as the blade
OF a dagger.
"a formidable beast" said T, medi-
tatively. walking slowly around it.
"Ay,' replied my friend; I'VE have
need to feel grateful to the Lancer.
But for him we should have been run
to earth by the brute. Yet it must
have been very badly put to it to
chase a couple OF men on horseback.
l should never have believed it,
In q little while the soldier rose to
his feet again, and then told US that
he felt sufficiently recovered to return
to camp, which by q short cut across
the valley, was about q mile and a
half away. His horse, however, was
in no fit condition to carry him, but
seeing that he now stood tolerably
firm on his feet, we made no doubt
that he was capable of walking the
distance. We withdrew his lance from
the body of the lion, and fitting it in
to the heel-socket upon his boot, Slip
ped the sling OF it over his arm; then
taking the bride of the horse in his
hand, in this manner he and the ami
NAL moved slowly off.
We fingered awhile watching him, till
perfectly satisfied that he would do
very we'll, then again mounted our
horses and set forward at brisk
trot. The drums and flies were Just
shrilling and rafting out the ''retreat"
tattoo as we entered the camp, so
that by the time we had gained our
quarters and shifted our attire the
mess bugle was ringing it's sonorous
tones upon the quiet air. And when
Captain Angus and took our seats
at table that night we had such
yarn to tell as robbed every other
topic of it's interest and made our mar
row escape the one absorbing subject
Of conversation.
The lion was stuffed and is still
among the most conspicuous objects
Of furniture in the mess-room OF tile
- Regiment. Aweek later the divis-
lOnal orders contained the announce
nent that Lance Corporal Watson of
the - Lancers would be promoted
to the rank of Corporal "for gallantry
in assisting two officers who were pur
sued by a lion"