The evening times., 1896-06-20

LIVE LIONS PHOTOGRAPHED
How a Snap Shot and a Crack
Shot Both Scored a Hit.
LIVES RisKED FOR THEM
But the Camera Fiend Got His Mega
tive and His Comrade Got
the PeltS.
LIVES RisKED FOR THEM
lcopyright. 1906,

They had been graduated from college
i'll June OF the same year, nd were ''rougli-
ing it, during the summer months to build
up constitutions that were somewhat the
worse for a year OF unusually hard study,
for both men were conscientious students.
and preparing in earnest for the battle or
life. In physical appearance and tenn
perameut they We're almost the exact
opposite OF the other, yet they had been
the most intimate OF chunis during the
entire college course, differing often in
their views, yet never having serious
falling out.
Bernard was a quick, wiry, stumpy
little fellow, OF five feet four, with
straight, black, close-croppcd hair and
smouth-shayen face. His small, rouguish
eyes were set deeply in his head, un,.er
shaggy brows; his nose had been called
"stubby" by ciassmate, who had been
passed in the race by him, and his mouth,
generously proportioned. was of the laugh
ing variety. He was as active as cat.
and, when in good physical trim, q lite an
athlete Withal. Bernard was de cidcdly
yenturesome, and during their summer
outing his quiet, more phlcgnatie com
panion was kept busy restraining his i'm
retuosity and heading off reckless ad-
venture.
Viardot, tall and slender, required ex-
| actly five feet eleven and three-quarters
inches OF the tape to take his measure. His
luNuriant yellow tiair caressed his high
| forehead and his neck with graceful curis.
a PINK and white complexion was matched
with Ia rye blue eyes, and his features were
regularity Itself.
When the two chuIns landed at the ranch
where they first stopped they were loaded
with rifles, rods and cameras, blankets
| and saddles and all the paraphernaiia sup
posed to complete the outfit of 4 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 choice
| negative. i
That photographers box of yours Will
| get you into your wooden oyercoat yet"
| claimed Niardot one day, after Bernard
| had fallen out OF pine tree into which he
| had climbed TO get favorable focus op a
| siIvery cascade.
But Bernard was small and tough and
laughed merrily at his companions warn-
ing.
| The two finally pitched their camp in a
wild canon. miles from any human habta-
| ton nd infreauently visited by white men.
| There We're roaming Indian hunters seen
| occasionally. but. Us they were reported
10 he peaceabte, no fears OF them were ea-
| tcrtained.
II we are going to rough it," said Vi
| ardot. phiiosophicaly; III We are going
to get away from the conveHtionalitics
and turmoil OF the city, let us get as far
away as we can" And SO the two col
| leglans Travelled three days journey from
the hospitable ranch before they found
| n spot primeval and remote enough to
| suit their fancy.
They had been in camp four days
and We're beginning 10 feel comfortably
az home, when a trio of prospectors came
/ along, looking for traces of gold in the
| nf ha
| were invited TO stay for supper, and after
ward rolled themselves in their blankets
| and slept soundiy out under the stars.
After supper the five men sat around
| the big fire of pine boughs and passed
| several pleasant hours in telling yarns
| of adventure AMI funny stories and singing
college songs. During the evening 1T was
| Givulged by the miners that they had seen
| a couple of mountain lions about three
| miles down the stream.
THE varmints saw u.s." exclaimed one
| swarthy prospector, before any of Is
could snatch n gun and jumped into cave
| up on the Cliff
I'D give fifty to PUNK bullet through
one ofthem. exclaimed Viardot. '.Wouldnt
be lou myself if l could take back
the hide of His Lordship Quinquajoni
| Feiis ConcolOr would be a matchless orna-
ment TO my den in New York
"You eau have the pelt II you'll oniy let
|
| rectilinear,' rejoined Bernard. THE
triumph of taking home the peit Of dead
lion sinks into insignificance when ccm-
pared with the glory of photographiug r
live cougar on his native heath. Think Of
il. man: would be immortal if could
walk into the a rt institute at home and ex-
hibit a photo Of this wild mona rch of the
canon standing in the doorway OF his resi-
dence. waving u cordial welcome with his
tail"
You'd git chawed into sausage fore
ever v could work the trigger Nv yer
box" remarked another miner, pcking his
nearest companion in the ribs with his
elbow.
Well. I'll risk it," retorted Bernard
big game is worth big risk
You'll do nothing of the kind" snap
ped Viardot. "I'll see to II that ycu staS'
with me. gun in hand, at a respectfu dis
tauce, when We 90 tolCok pthose sly cats"
The conversation en- this particular sub
iect WAS dropped by the party after the
college boys had asked for and received
minute description of the place where
the lions had been seen.
| Bernard said nothing more that night
| about lions or snap shots. but he turned IL
for suooze, with mental reservation.
1t was two hours after sunrise the follow
ing morning when Viardot, tired by long
| tramp the preceding day, awoke from his
sound slumber. He rubbed his eyes, an6
without turning over. exclaimed:
~ say. old boy"
There was no response, and when yiardo
shifted his position so as to command q
view of his surroundings. no one was in
sight.
Now, where in the deuce do you sup
pose that fellow is?' he calculated. ad-
! dressing some imaginary parsonage. Thel
he arose and took inventory of the tent
Bcrnard's hat and rifle were gone.
Yes and his camera, toO,' growlet
viardot.
Then sudden idea struck him. 'Tht
lions! He's gone to photograph tho st
beasts.'' he fairly yelled.
His anxiety for the safety of his com
panion was so great that he forgot his
breakfast. and, sratching his rifle and re
volver belt, started on run down tht
canon.
After a rapid chase of three miles, he ap
preached the cliff designated by the pros
pectors. AT length he espied an oPenin!
in the rock, which answered the description
OF the lions den. Still no sound and IL,
sight of his companion.
Across a deep chasm from the mouth o
the den was another point OF rock, steep
but still accessible to the climber. War
dot decided to climb this point of rock
feeling assured that Bernard was soma
where near.
He had almost reached the top, whei
suddenly a slight movement in the bushes
on the opposite cliff caught his eye. Be
hind them crouchcd long, 1.-THE, tawn,
animal, slowly and with catlike actiol
swaying its long, furry tail. The anima
was evidently preparing to spring upol
some creature.
what IL it should be Bernardo
The question flashed across Viardot'
mind and completely took away his breath
he had half expected some such denoue
ment. yet he was not prepared for tt