The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-12
IT IS DEADLY FRUIT
How the Tiny Grapple Plant Does Its
Choking.
HOOKS SINKING IN THE FLESH
A Striking Scene From the African
Piains-The Monarch of the For
est Lay In Walt for the
Hartebeest.


which. already overcharged with heat,
reflected them back from its yellowish
surface. till the air felt like solid iron
bands of heat. From the horizon came
bounding along a herd of the jetel or
hartebeest antelope, with their beauti-
full red chestnut skins glistening in the
declining sun like the coats OF we'll
groomed English hunters.
Rapidly approaching, they stopped
by a patch of nebbuk bushes to eat the
small fruit. which. like miniature APP
pies. about the size Of nutmegs. had
fallen in large quantities to the ground.
The leader of the herd mounted
white ant-hill to keep faithful watch
over his flock against any approaching
danger.
Amid some tall grasses that lay be-
tween the forest and the nebbuk BUSH
es. a Hon awoke from his midday sleep.
He stretched himself lazily first with
one paw then with the other, and, with
eyes dull from sleep, surveyed leisure
ly the plain before him. Suddenly he
spied the herd of antelopes feeding on
the fruit of the nebbuk bushes. AT
once the loosened muscles became firm,
and drawn out like whipcord, the head
rigid and attentive. the body crouched
close to the ground, the eyes fixed.
bright and cruel; the tufted tail, quiv-
ering with emotion. moved slowly from
side to side.
Softly and slowly he began to move
amidst the grass that lay between him
and the nebbuk bushes: one clumsy
shake of the grasses above him or the
slightest exposure of his body would
have given the alarm to the watchful
leader of the antelope herd, and few
moments would have seen them disap-
pear on the clear-cut horizon Moving
forward a few PAGES. with every step
considered. then pausing, as IL resting
from the extreme tension that this eau
tious approach caused him, taking ad-
vantage of every bit OF ground and
cover with perfect judgment. the result
of tradition and practice. the great
beast crept on.
The lion at last came to the edge of
the grass, a long space separating him
from the nearest antelope. Could he
spring the distance, or would he fall
short and stink away ashamed OF his
failure?
He paused for a few seconds to col
lect all his strength for the final leap;
the body crouched close to the ground
and bent backwards we'll over the hind
hooks, the head firm and raised, the
claws sent into the ground for better
grip, the body oscillating backwards
and forwards few times, and then
with a great roar the tawny lion
sprang. He had measured his strength
rightly; one great paw came down
with a sledge-hammer violence on the
beautiful head OF the nearest antelope.
With growls and purrings the great
beast began his work of destruction.
Every now and then, as the lion lay
across the mangled body of his victim.
he would pause and look around, but
with no fear in his look; for what 9TH
er inhabitant of the waste would con-
test his ownership? What danger
could lie in walt for him? And so he
fed without any dread.
AS the sun was about to set, a re-
freshing breeze came whispering from
the forest over the sandy plain toward
this strange mystery OF life and death.
Gaining in strength, II drove slowly on
the fruit OF the grapple plant. whose
formidable looking hooks were await
ing to attach themselves to any passer-
by. 50 that IL might be conveyed to
some SPOT where the seed contained
within the array of hooks might find
suitable Judgment for growth Round
ing themselves into balls, sometimes
travelling faster. sometimes slower.
sometimes stopping altogether. accord
ing to the soothing. refreshing breeze.
On they came. roundish balls, inno-
cent-looking enough, and apparently
not likely to do harm to anything. AT
last one lazily rolled under the hind
quarters of the lion as he lay occupied
with his victim. and, unrolling itself,
the hooks very slowly got hold OF Its
tawny quarters. at first so gently that
the lion fed on unheeding. AS the
hooks got a firmer hold they began to
curl and creep into the flesh. until a
sudden grip revealed to the lion that
something unusual was upon his quar-
tiers. With deep growl he lifted him.
self or the carcass OF the deer to ex-
anime the source Of mis- annoyance. Al
first he tried to brush of the fruit with
a front paw. but the hooks had now
got firm hold and were not to be easily
moved. After repeated efforts he de.
sisted. and smelt 1t with his nose. not
understanding what It was. or why Il
was there.
The hooks gradually Tightening theil
hold were now giving the lion consider
able pain. which caused him to los,
his composure somewhat, and, with
deep, angry growls, he worked all the
harder with his front paws to remov,
the tenacious fruit. But the more h,
did so the firmer II chung and tn,
worse grew the pain. till, driven to des
peration- he seized the fruit In hi
mouth and tried 10 tear II away from
it's Judgment. But the fruit remained
firm.
majestic self-control and, with savag
mutterings. tore away with all hi
strength. At last the tenacious frul
gave way into the lions mouth, blu
still obedient to its nature. IL woun,
its sharp prongs into the tongue. roo
and throat OF the distracted and mad
dened beast. Then the dreadful dealt
agony began. Growing, moaning
blinded with pain. the noble head Jerk
Ding rapidly from side to side. the man
dying about in utter confusion, tn
mouth wide open. Rolling on tn
ground. standing up, rolling again
running round and round. standin
still, lifting his head high in the ain
burying II in the sands, tearing at hi
mouth with his claws. the weary deaf
struggle went on.
At last the animals efforts gradual
ly ceased. the commissions and twitch
ings grew less and less violent. till pei
feet stiffness stole over that habitatio
of strength and endurance.
-. - -