The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-07-23
LIONS PHOTOGRAPHED.
How a Snap Shot and a Crack
Shot Both Scored a Hit.
Risking Life for a Picture-But the Cam
era Fiend Got Ills Negative and His
Comrade Got the Pelts A
Thrilling Experience.
[CoPYRICHT. 1896. I


Look out.-hc's going to jump"
A startled cry from Niardot, who. at
n short distance on the top of a great
rock was Watching his companion, Bel-
nard, crawling up the steep cliff to-
wards a dark cavern midway to the
top. The two young men were spend
ing the summer in the wilds of the
Rocky mountains. They had been
graduated from college in June of the
same year, and were "roughing it" dur
ing the summer months to build up
constitutions that were somewhat the
worse for a year of unusually hard
study; for both men were conscientious
-+t-4e and -prenaring in earnest for
the Datue OF 4 IN ply s1cal appear
ance and temperament they were al
most the exact opposite of each other,
yet they had been the most intimate
of chums during the entire college
course, differing often in their views
yet never having a serious fallng-out.
Bernard was Il quick, wiry, stumpy
little fellow of five feet four. with
straight, black, close-cropped hair and
smooth-shaven face. His small rogujsh
eyes were set deeply in his head under
shaggy brows; his nose had been called
''stubby" by a classmate who had been
passed in the race by him, and his
mouth. generously proportoned, was
of the Laughing" variety. He was as
active as Il cat and, when in good
physical trim, quite an athlete. Withal,
Bernard was decidedly venturesome.
and during their summer outing his
quiet, more phlegmatic companion was
kept busy restraining his impetuosity
and heading off reckless adventures.
Niardot, tall and slender required eN-
actly five feet eleven and three-quarrers
inches of the tape to take his measure.
His luXuriant yellow hair caressed his
high forehead and his necl; with grace
full curls. y pink -and-white complex
ion was matched with l3ige blue eyes
and his features were regularity Itself.
When the two chuDiS landed at the
ranch where they fist stopped, they
were loaded with riffs. rods and cam
eras, blankets and saddles, and all the
paraphernalia supposed to complete
the outfit of a Rocky mountain tourist
party.
Bernard liked to hunt, but he liked
still better to take choice shots with
another pet instrument, his camera.
There was no risk that he wouldn't run
to make a choice negative.
THAT photographers box of yours
will get you INTO your wooden overcoat
yet" exclaimed Niardot one day, after
Bernard had fallen out of a pine tree
nto which he had climbed to get a IA
vorable focus on silvery cascade.
But Bernard was small and tough,
and laughed merrily at his companions
warning.
The two finally pitched their camp in
a wild canyon, miles from any human
habitatiOn and infrequently visited nv
white men. There were roaming ir-
dian hunters seen occasionally, but as
they were reported to be peaceable no
fears OF them were entertained.
IF we are going to rough it," said Vi
ardot, philOsophically if we are going
to get away from the conyentionalities
and turmoil of the city, let us get as lar
away as we can" And so the two col
legians Travelled three days journey
from the hosptable ranch before they
found spot primeval and remote
enough to suit their fancy.
They had been in camp four days and
were beginning to feel comfortably at
home, when trio of prospectors came
along, looking for traces of gold in the
sands Of the mountain stream. They
were invited to stay for supper, and aft
erward rolled themselves in their
blankets and slept soundly out unGer
the stars.
After supper the five men sat around
the big fire of pine boughs, and passed