The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-31
CAPTURING A KITTEN.
An Adventure with Mountain Ii
ons In California

ons In California
One bright day in May, when / was
about thirteen years old, and my broth
or Charlie was year older. we started
out together 70 visit the children on .
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 70 have
q gun, had gone with him on his
hunting expeditions 70 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 q
neighbor meant jaunt Of several
miles. ! had learned to shoot well, but
As We had but one gun. and Charley
was boy, he usually claimed the right
TO the gun when we went hunting.
The moutains were full Of deer, wild.
cats and ''coonA" California Hons and
panthers were occasionally seen, to
say nothing OF rabbits, quail and such
small game.
On thlsday we left the house at about
nine o'clock, We trudgcd and logged
pleasantly along. but Charley did moi
kill even squirrel. and / took pains 10
tease him about his bad lnck.
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
turned of into the woods TO try to re-
deem his reputation MS hunter. ]
might have followed him. but was In
haste 70 get home. So touched up
old Bob with my whip, and logged
along down the lonely bride path.
s Just as was following bend In the
r0ad, mile and half beyond the
place where Charley and had parted,
something attracted my attention In
what appeared 10 be pile OF leaves
bedded In the hollow roots Of great
oak. The object appeared to shine.
! turned my horse toward 1t to get a
closer view, and then discovered that
the aiming came from the bright eyes
Of several beautiful little creatures
which at first took to be large kit
tenA; but when diEmounted found
that they were the cubs Of 4 mountain
lionl
Twas delighted. had always had a
fondness for kittens, and these little
animals were much prettier than any
kitten. They we're 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 pctsl Instantly the
thought came to me; why not capture
them and take them home2p Here
would be glory for me, TO be sure. How
would triumph over Charleyi
stopped over and picked up two Of
them; there were four In all.
had much difficulty in mounting nv
horse with the baby lions In my arms, for
they wriggled and scratched and did
everything In their power to prevent
me from carrying them of; but at last
was in the saddle, and started of.
Fortunately my horse knew the road
and was perfectly safe; so / merely
threw the bride over my arm. and
held crying kitten In each hand
How they did meow and squalll
First one and then the other, and then
a duet.
AL at once. In the midst of all this
yelling Of the cubs, the thought flashed
across my mind that the mother would
probably come homo, and finding two
OF her babies gone, 20 In quest Of them;
and here ] was, creeping along on
slow old horse, three miles from home.
with two young liona 1t was about
time TO wake up old Bobi
! looked for my whip. II was gone
Probably ! had dropped 1t In my al
tempts to mount
Here was new difficulty. II was
impossible for me to get of and ON
again with the big kittens in nv arms.
and the old horse would trot along for
only few steps, and then subside in
70 bis usual slow walk II was only
by dfnt Of hard kicking and fierce Jerk
ing Of the bride that contriyed to ret
him into an occasion fair trot
We had gone about mile farther,
and was cutting one Of my kittens In
70 submission. when heard what
fancied was growl behind me.
turned, but could see nothing.
Nevertheless. felt little nervous
and kicked my feet against the horses
sides more vigorously than ever
We went on about two rods, when !
heard the same noise again This time
! thought that could not be mistaken,
and WAS not. Turning, saw, to my
horror. that = large California lioness
was coming at dead run not one hun.
dred wards behind me
Every few steps she uttered horrid
growl. and she looked really fendish.
Ny heart stood still. but did not give
up Old Bob, too. heard the noise. and