Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-02
CAPTURING A KITTEN.
An Adventure with Mountain Lii
ons in O lifornla-

ons in o lllfornll-
One bright day In May, when wa.
about thirteen years old, and my broth.
er Charlie was year Older, we started
out together to visit the children ON
farm about four miles distant, Charley
walked, his gun on his shoulder, and
rode oar cd white horse, Bob.
/ did little more than keep pace with
my brother. | had been his companion
ever since lie had been allowed to have
gun, | had gone with him on his
hunting expeditions to carry the game.
and the old horse was often with us on
our wandcrings through the woods.
We lived on n large farn high up
among tho mountains of the coast
range OF California, The country was
very sparscly settled, and visit to n
ncighbor meant n jaunt Of several
miles. ] hal learned to shoot well, but
as we had but one gun, and Charley
was boy, he usually elaine the right
TO the gun when we went hunting
The moutains were full of deer, wild.
cats and "coons" California lions and
pnuthers 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 trulg,d aud logged
pleasantly along, bu, Charley did not
kill even a squirrel, and took pains to
tease him about hi 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 tho main road and
taken the trail toward home. Charley
turned of into the woods TO try TO re-
deem his reputation as hunter. |
might have followed h IN, but was in
haste to get home, So | touched up
old Bob with my whip, and logged
along down the lonely bride path.
just as was follpvin. bend in the
road, mile and u half beyond the
place where Charley and had parted.
something attracted my attention in
what appeared b b. a pile OF leaves
bclded In tbs hollow roots of Il great
oak The object appeared TO shine.
turned my horse toward IL to g,t n
closer view, and thcn discovered that
tho shining came from tho bright eyes
OF several beautiful little creatures
which ut first took TO be larrc kit.
tens; but when | dismpuntcl found
that they were the cubs Of n mountain
lionl
was deli ghtcl, had always had a
fondncss for kittens, and these little
animals were much prcttler than any
kitten. They were plump and most
beautifully married.. They got mp and
began 10 gamhpl and play with each
other In the most innocent AMI en-.
/ gazing manner
What ilnll pctsl Instantly the
thought cam' 10 M: "Whv not eupturc
ttrm ana toh' Thorn hawo?" pcrc
would DC rlorY for M. 10 be sure. How
would triumph over Charley!
Isto,pol owe lni pic.s,l u two OF
them; there wcrr four in all.
/ hui IAN IN l,.i 'I.tF IN m uniting my
horse wiz tn baby lion In nv arm 4, Tor
they wrigFrl all srralcho AMI did
everything In tl'ir power to prevent
mo from cIrrYil thcm oil, bat at last
| wa, IL the .lll lie, anl st4rtcl oil
| Fortunately my AJrsr knew The 70 d
and was pc ica,'y slf,; 50 merely
throw tao b'i De over my arm. aud
held a crging li..an In each hand
How they did meow AMI squalll
/ First ons AMI thea the other, and then
du T.
All at ouca, IA the midst Of all this
. yelling Of the cube, tho Thought flashed
aero fs my mild that the mother would
. probably como Hplne, AMI lnling two
Of her babe, golr,Rp IN quest NJ them;
and hero ! was orccpin' along on II
slow old no 81, three miles from home,
| with two younv Iona IL was about
tino 10 wa';a up old Bob!
] looked formy whip. 10 was gone
Probably had dropped II In my at
trngts 20 mount,
Here was new difficulty. II was
| impossible Tor me % get OF aul an
| again with the hiy kittena Ia nv arms,
and thc a!l horse would trot along for
only Il fow stcp4, and then sub,ilo in.
10 bl, usual slow walk II was only
| by dint of hard diclSinR and fierce Jerk.
INK 81 the bride That contrivod To get
linn into an Orca,iDn falr trot.
We had gone about q mile farther,
and ! was cufir.' one Of my kittens in
10 submission, when heard what
fancicd was u growl behind mo.
turncd, bat could sec 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 TIA Il conl not Do mistaken,
and was not Turning, | saw, 20 my
horror, that large California lioness
was coming az dead run not one hun
dred wards bnAiH1 mo-
Every few stops she uttered n horrid
growl, and She looked really Gendish
NY honrt stood still, but did not give
up. Old Bob too, heard tho noise. and
increased hi, speed 70 tho best pace hs
had.
OF course the little lions had caught
tho sound They mcowed Hnd cried,
louder than ever This excited tho
mother the more and she rcdoublcd her
g.owls.
| dared not look around, bot very
soon II was not necessary Tor me 20
turn In order 70 sec her She was right
" nay side, ~ glarlng at me 10 the
mOst frigLtful N nuer
There was rptripg olse 20 dol took
one u the kitten, aud threw II at tho
s%akSS Ha% sVa4 thleW u very bard,