The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-18
A HERO cr MAsAoNALANn.
aow a uoy uca'ued His Grandfather From
an Inrseed k.ionesa.


aaw "a uoy Rescued his Grandfather From
an Enrseed lioness.
soon after the British South Africa char
sercd cnmpany's band OF pioneers had oc
cunied the country OF the Mnshonas. sun.
Cry parties of prospcctors. intending set.
tiers AMI others were following DE- their
wake. Amotg them was nn old Dutch.
man. who had sold on his possessions IA
Cape Colony, and accompanied By a grand.
e1n was thus early 20 the front ia lookinn
after the advantages offered by the com
pany
Arrived safely at Fort Salisbury, he hal
outspanncd his oxen close to good feeding
aud water. neither OF which advantages OBJ
taiued near the township itself lnfortu-
nately lung sickness had set Ia among his
( oxen. and Tor the safety OF The majority he
had drafted the actual sufferers and was
grazing them on an ISOLATED patch Of grass
/ not far from his wagons.
/ One evening his herlsmar reported 20
! him that one Of the sick oxe. Svas too far
gone 60 be brought into kraal. The next
morning the hcrisman, mp betimes sought
the sick cox aud found it dead lie discov
ored also that some large beast OF prey bad
made a meal OF IT, on be hied back 20 his
master aud announced that lion had
killed and partly eaten the OK.
South African Dutchmen are not prone
20 believe everything they hear; 50 our trek.
ker. in this instance. poohpoohed the no
ton Of "A lion venturng 50 near the camp
His young grandson, aged 10 years, had a
mind innamed by the wonderful lion kills
he had heard on the way up and finally
persuaded the old man 20 40 and see
Catching up the rifle and handing his car
fridge belt To the boy, of he started. True
ly eaten. Dutchmanlike. he at once looked
for spoor, but the ground was too dry and
nard to civeimpressions. lie then made
cast around, beating through several
patches OF long grass, but without success.
At little distance 20 the right Of the
dead OK stood one of those large ant hills
that are the subject Of wondering interest
TO nearly every one who sees them for the
first time said the boy, "Gran'ther, the
schellum might be behind that ant hill. p"
Leisurely the old man directed his steps
toward the spot where he. after Inspecting
the ground ON three sides. was about 10
give up his quest Look into that bunch
of tambookie grass" suggested the boy.
Turning TO do So he was met with full
onset by splendid lioness. Her spring
landed her on the old mans left shoulder,
her weight carrying him TO the ground,
where she lay with ner teeth set last In tue
Dutchman's shoulder. lie lay prone with
his rifle thwartwise under bis body. Listen,
ye English lads, whose souls are Taught
with histories of derring do
The boy, seeing the old mans plight. did
not run away or set To blubbering Not he.
Down he went on his stomach and crawled
near enough TO catch hold of the rife, which
he drew away, and then, looking TO see If
the cartridge was all right, he took the best
aim he could at the li0ness His shot took
effect through the loins OF the beast, which
half rose and, snarling sayagely, somewhat
unueryed the lad.
He withdrew a few feet farther back,
when he removed the empty shell from the
rife and, carefully reloadng, took a second
shot with perfect success. Shot through the
heart, the animal rolled over on her side,
and after a tremor or two was stilled in
death. By this time several natives from
the wagon, hearing the shots, came running
up. They made "a primitive kindOf ambu-
lance, on which they removed the man to
his wagon. a doctor was sent for and the
patient removed TO the temporary hospital.
The writer Of this article was fever pa
tient at the time and can vouch for the
truth of this act Of gallantry on the part Of
the lO-year-old bOy.-London Globe.