Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-06
A MOTHERS STRATAGEM.

In June, 10, the snip w anuer-
err left the settlement of Monrovia,
coast of Liberia, having on board,
among her passengers, bound home
to the United States, young mis-
sionary, and his beautiful wife
Helen, with their child-a little
girl, three years old.
For two weeks the vessel encount-
cred succession of head-winds and
violent squalls, which, driving her
toward land at length compelled
her captain to anchor in a small bay
on the coast of Morocco.
1t was beautiful spot, but a few
hundred yards from one of the half
detached peaks OF the Atlas Noun
tains.
Gazing inland, the passengers be-
held wealth of verdure, with tall
trees and climbing plants, and
flowers of variegated hue many of the
latter ascending to the very top Of
the rocky hills, and hanging down
in long, graceful festoons over the
valleys between.
In the afternoon, the gale having
abated, the captain lowered boat
to make soundings in the bay.
II should so like to take little
Clara ashore;" said Helen to hel
husband. you know she has been
teasing us all day long for some Of
those pretty flowers"
"Very well; if the captain will
put us ashore, we will CO." said
Benton.
The captain having readily given
his consent, the two passengers
were soon landed on the beach.
Don't 60 to far away, sir" sale
the skipper, as he showed off again
But little Clara, breaking from
her parents, now ran up one of the
lofty, rocky elevations, the sides Of
which were covered with shrubbery
of the most attractive colors.
AWAIT for me, George" said Heller
to her husband, land | will bring
her back"
The height the child was ascend.
ing not being very steep, she hat
proceeded about one hundred yards
ere her mother overlook her. The
naked arms and shoulders Of the
little one were by this time scratch
ed in several places, from contact
with the briers. Mrs. Benton
therefore dipped her handkerchief
in spring trickling down rock
and was applying it to the bleeding
parts, when she was suddenly start
led by roar, deep and prolonged,
like rumbling thunder, apparently
emerging from the heart Of the
mountain, and shaking it to its
centre!
Terrified, she turned, to behold
an awful spectacle-the huge bris.
thing head and round, glazing eyes
of that dreadful Of wild beasts-an
African lion!
First the head, and then the sup
pie tawny body, appeared from the
shrubbery, the tail whisking furious
ly to and fro, the name standing
on end, the fiery tongue and sharp
fangs visible, as second roar came
booming from the cavernous throat.
my God! my God" was all the
poor lady could gasp, as with a
| mothers instinct, she snatched the
child to her breast.
Mr.. Benton now saw her danger.
He was unarmed, but he shouted to
the men in the boat, who, turning,
also perceived Helen's danger.
To gain the ships side, to call for
and obtain loaded muskets, was,
with the captain, the work Of few
minutes. Then he directed the boat
ashore. A cracking report was
heard as one of the weapons was
discharged, and with terrible roar,
the lion turned, slightly wounded,
looking toward the seamen.
Only for a moment, however;
the next, away he went in pursuit
of Mrs. Benton, who, with the speed
of desperation, her child clasped
tightly in her arms, was fleeing up
the height. On she ran, the lion,
though wounded, gaining fast.
Now and then she would turn to be-