The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-12
CAPTURING A KITTEN.
An Adventure with Mountain Ii
ons In California

OBS In OaLJOrula-
One bright day in May. when / was
about thirteen years old, and my broth
err Charlie was a year older, we started
out together to visit the children on q
farm about four miles distant. Charley
walled, his gun on his shoulder, and Il
rode orr old white horse, Bob.
l did little more than keep pace with
my brother. l had been his companion
ever since he had been allowed to 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 a large farm high up
among the mountains Of the coast
range of California. The country was
very sparsely settled, and a visit to a
neighbor meant, a jannt Of several
miles. ! had learned to shoot well, but
as we had but one gun, and Charley
was a boy, hesuSaally claimed the right
to the gun when we went hunting.
The moutains were full Of deer, wild
cats and 'coons" California lions and
panthcrs 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 trudged and logged
pleasantly along. but Charley did not
kill even a squirrel, and | took pains to
tease him about his 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 leftsthe .main road and
taken the trail toward home, Charley
turned off into the woods to try I re-
deem his reputation as a hunter. i
might have followed him, 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 following a bend in the
road, q mile and a half beyond the
place where Charley and ! had parted,
something attracted my attention in
what appeared to be a pile OF leaves
bedded in tho hollow roots Of a great
oak. The object appeared to shine.
! turned my horse toward il to get q
closer view, and then discovered that
the shining came from the bright eyes
of several beautiful little creatures
which at first took to be large kit
tens; but when / dismounted / found
that they were the cubs Of a mountain
lionl
i was delighted. l had always had a
fondncss for kittens, and these little
animals were much prettier than any
kitten They were 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 pets! Instantly the
thought came to me; why not capture
them and take them homer" Here
would teaglory for me, to be sure. How
! would triumph over Charlcyi Il
stopped over and picked up two OF
them; there were four in all.
had much difficulty In mounting my
horse Within babyl lion in my arms for
they wriggled and scratched and did
everything in their power to prevent
me from carrying them off; but at last
I was IN the saddle. and started off.
Fortunately my horse knew the road
and vas perfectly safe; So I merely
threw the bride over my arm, and
held a crying kitten in each hand
How they did meow and squalll
First one and then the other, and then
La duet.
All at once, in the midst Of all this
yelling Of the cubs, the thought flashed
across my mind that the mother would
probably come home, and finding two
of her babies gone,go in quest Of them;
and here f@a creeping along on a
slow old hprse, three miles from home,
with two Soang lions. It was about
time to wake up Ola Bohl
], looked formg whip. Ii was gone
Probably ! had dropped it in my at
tcmpts.to mount.
Here was 4 new difficulty. 1t was
impossible for me to get of and on
again with the big kittens in my arms,
and the old horse would trot along for
only q few steps, and then subside in
70 bis usual slow walk. It was only
by dint Of hard kicking and fierce jerk.
ing Of the bride that | coutrivea to ge,
him into an occasion fair trots
We hal gone about a mile farther,
and was cutting one Of my kittens in.
to submission, when / heard what
fancied was a growl behind me.
turned, but could see nothing.
Nevertheless, | felt a 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
i thought that ! could not be mistaken,
and | was not. Turning, ! saw, toN my
horror, that a large California lioness
was coming at dead run 0 one hun
dred wards behind 4na
Every few steps she uttered 4 horrid
growl, and she looked really fendish
Ny heart stood sill, but l did not give
up Old Bob, too, heard the noise. and