The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-20
FRUIT THAT KILLS LIONS.
How the Tiny Graphic Plant Does It's
Deadly Choking.

From the London Agrosy.
The full African sun. from a sky Of the
hardest blue, poured down its fierce rays
on the sandy plains beneath, which, al
ready 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 to the jetel or hartebeest antelope,
with their beautiful red chestnut skins
glistening in the declining sun like the
coats of well-groomed English hunters
Rapidly approaching, they stopped by q
patch of nebbuk bushes to eat the small
fruit, which, like miniature apples, about
the size of nutmegs, had fallen in large
quantities to the ground. The leader or
the herd mounted white ant-hill TO keep
faithful watch over his flock against any
approaching danger.
Amid some tan grasses that lay between
the forest and the nebbuk bushes, a lion
awoke from his midday sleep. He stretca-
ed hlmset lazliy hrst with one paw, then
with the other, and, Wi<S eyes duh from
sleep, surveyed leisurely the plain before
him. Suddenly he spied the herd of an
telopes feeding on the fruit of the nebbuk
bushes. At once the loosened muscles be-
come firm, and drawn out like whipcord
the head rigid and attentive, the body
croucned close to the ground, the eyes
fixed, bright and cruel; the tufted tail,
quivering 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 nerd, and a few moments would
nave seen them disappear on the clear
cut horizon. Moving forward a few pa
ces, with every step considered, then
pauSing, as If resting from the extreme
tension that this cautious approach caus-
ed him, taking advantage OF every bit of
ground and cover with perfect Judgment,
f1aa of fr~an ion rrn1 fina he
great beast crept on.
The lion at last came to the edge Of the
grass, long space separating him from
the distance, or would he fan short and
sink away, ashamed of his failure
lie paused for few seconds to collect
all his strength for The final leap; the
body crouched close to the ground and
bent backwards well over the hind hooks,
the head firm and raised, the claws sent
into the ground for a better grip, the
body oscillating backwards and forwards
a few times. and then with great roar
the tawny lion sprang. He had measured
his strength rightly; one great paw came
down with a sledge-hammer viOlenc7 ON
the beautiful head of the nearest ante
With growls and purrlngs the great
beast began his work OF destruction Ev-
cry now and then, as the lion lay across
the mangled body OF the victim, he would
pause and look around, but with no fear
in his look for what other inhabitant of
the waste would contest his ownership?
What danger could lie in wait fer him?
And SO he fed without any dread.
As The sun was about to set, a refresh
ing breeze came whispering from the for
esq over the sandy plain toward this
strange mystery Of life and death. Gain
ing i'm strength, il drove slowly on the
fruit Of the sfapple plant, whose for
Misunderstanding hooks We're awaiting 10
attach themselves 10 any passerby, 50
tnat ii mi8pt be conveyed to some spot
Waere the seed contained within the. ar
ray Of hooks might End suitable lOdg-
ment for growth. Rounding themselves
le11f att Hrs4ff eae
sometimes slower, some times stopping al
together according TO the yaryinS
strength Of the soothing, refreshing
on they came, roundish balls, Innocent
looking enough, and apparently not like
ly TO 90 harm to anything. At last one
iez4v rolled under tie headquarters Of
the lion as he lay occupied with his vic
tim. and. unroilng itself the hooks very
al first 80 gently that the lion fed on
unheedinG. As the hooks got hrmer
hold they began TO curl and creep into the
flesh, until a sudden grip revealed to the
lion that something unusual was upon his
quarters. With a deep groWl he lifted
himself off the carcass of the deer to ex-
anime the source OF his annoyance. At
first he tried to brush off the fruit with a
front paw, but the hooks had now got
firm held and were not to be easily NOV
ed. After repeated efforts he desisted,
and smelt it with his nose, not under
standing what it was, or why 1t was
The hooks gradually tightening their
hold were now giving the lion considerable
pain. which caused him to lose him COM
posure somewhat and, with deep, angry
bowls, he worked all the harder with his
front paws to remove the tenacious fruit
But the more he did so the frmer *
chung and the worse grew the pain. till,
driven to desperation, he seized the fruit
I'm his mouth and tried to tear 1t away
from its lodgment. But the fruit re-
mained firm.
Agonized with pain, he now lost his ma
jestic self-control. and. with savage NUT
terings, tore away with all his strength
At last the tenacious fruit gave way into
the lions mouth, but still obedient to its
nature, ii wound its sharp prOngs into the
tongue roof and throat Of the distracted
and maddened beast. Then the dreadful
death agony began. Growing. moaning,
blinded with pain the noble head Jerking
about in utter confusion. the mouth wide
open. Rolling on the ground. standing up,
rolling again, running round and round,
standing still. lifting his head high in the
air. hurying IL in the sands. tearing at his
mouth with his claws, the weary death
struggle went on.
At last the animals Efforts gradually
ceased, the commissions and twitchings
grew less and less violent, till perfect
stiffness stole over that habitation of
strength and endurance.
The pale light OF the African moon
shOne forth from the clear sky, dotted
with innumerable stars Its gentle beams
fell upon the strange tragedy. embracing
with its calm light the mangled antelope,
the chOked lion, the buried seed, IL shone
on. very still, doing its own work ia the
midst Of the universe Of mystery.