The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-16

DRAWN TO THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF.
ways fed at his approach he never bothered
them nor ever dreamed that they would
bother him.
He had reached a place in the mountains
where he had often made camp before be
cause of the abundance of fuel and the fine
spring near by, when he was surprised by
a prolonged series of half human cries that
seemed to come from the top of the precipi-
tous rock at the base of which he had
come to a halt.
The dogs at once set up n vociferous bark
ing, and stepping back Mr.. Hurter saw a
band of at least 20 immense balloons clam
bering down the cliff with blood in their
eyes. 1t looked as if, tired of flying from
the white man. they had resolutely deter
mined to become the aggressors.
As the foremost of the fierce creatures
came to the level the dogs, unheeding the
call of their master. sprang at him. and as
the other balloons now began leaping down
from the rocks in n way that would have
killed a man Mr.. Hurter thought only of
the danger to his dogs and started in to
save them. He fired into the group, and as
he was not 30 feet away he soon laid out
eight of the largest of the animals, but in
doing so he exhausted all the loads in his
magazine.
In that first onset, three of the dogs were
speedily killed, and the balloons crowded
about Mr.. Hurter so that he had to club his
rifle to keep them away, and SO had no
time to load up again.
Fifty feet behind him was the Vogel
river, which Mt that point flowed through a
canyon, the precpitous sides of which were
fully 1000 feet in depth. Realizing his
danger from the balloons and giving nc
thought to the canyon, he fell back with
his remaining dog till he stood on the edge
of the black, yawning chasm.
The animals, with increased cries of
anger, followed him, and as he saw the
danger behind he was reminded of his pis-
tolls, for by this time the stock of his rife
was broken into splinters. Hastily draw
ing them, he fired into the mass Of balloons,
which seemed to grow no smaller, though
he and the dogs had killed nine.
AT length the last shot was fired from the
pistols, and at that instant a huge male ami
NAL that had been slightly wounded in the
shoulder leaped on the dog and dragged
him to the edge Of the precipice.
Mr.. Hurter dubbed his pistols and was
running to help the last of his dogs, when
another baboon equally strong and fierce
attacked him from behind. This creature
seized the hunter by the leg with such
force as to bring his big white teeth togeth
er near the thigh bone.
In moments of great danger and excite
ment, men do not feel a sudden wound
With a blow from his pistol and a quicl
turn, Mr.. Hurter freed himself from tn,
animal but the next instant it had leapeC
upon his chest and was trying to seize hi
throat in its teeth.
Strangely enough, and fortunately TO
the hunter, the balloons did not act in con
cert. Had they done so the result would
have been different.
Mr.. Hurter never lost his presence o
mind Dropping his pistols, he fastened
his powerful hands on the hairy throat o
the monster, whose fierce eyes were nov
not foot away from his own, but he sooi
felt that, with only natures weapons Il
help him, he was no match for his half hu
man antagonist
He was being drawn to the edge of tn
cliff when he bethought him of his knife
and with quick movement of the RICH
hand he drew it from his belt and plunged
it into the baboon's face.
The creatures claws had torn his seal
so that he was nearly blood blinded, Will
the drain from the wound in his thigh wa
fast exhausting him.
He felt that the struggle could not con
tinue much longer His clothes We're tori
from his back, and with an intelligenc,
that seemed human and malignity pos
itively devilish the creature was forcini
him TO the edge of the canyon.
At this juncture the remaining dog, hav
ing succeeded in killing his assailant
sprang to the rescue of his master. Tn
baboon, on being attacked in the rear, re
leased his hold on the man and turned OIL
the dog.
The faithful dog, already weakened b,
the loss of blood, was unable to cope witt
the baboon. but he chung to him and drew
him closer TO the precipice over which tn
two soon fell.
At sight of this the other balloons mad
off with cries of alarm, and the hunter sue
ceeded in reaching that night a mining
camp, where he was kindly cared for.