The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-12-19
Splendid Courage Of Paul Kruger o.
South Africa.

ne went IN ana naO SOLue COlleS. Ills
father, however, was SO angry at him
for running across country without his
rifle that he very nearly gave his son
a tiogging. But he made the boy; take
q. light rife with him when he left ito,
finish his race.
On sped young Kruger, the Kaffir
braves toiling after him as we'll as they
could. They threw away their impede
ments as their muscles weakened; their
path became strewn with shields, spears,
clubs, and even the bangles they wore
on their legs and arms. But in spite
of it all, Paul Kruger kept far ahead of
of them; and as the day waned he found
himself so completely master Of the stu
alton that he commenced to look about
for an antelope which he might bring
into camp by way Of replenishing the
larder. .F
He saw through the tall grass a patch
of color, which made him think that it
7belonged to a buck taking his ease. He
aimed and pulled the trigger; but the
gun missed fire; and instead of an ante
lope there bounded up a; huge lion, who
had been disturbed by the sound. The
two faced each other, the lion glaring at
Kruger, and he returning that glare by
the steady gaze of his fearless eyes, The
lion retreated q. few steps, and Kruger
made as many steps forward; then Kru-
ger commenced slowly taking one step
backward, followed by..a second, and
then third. But. the lion followed
every move of Kruger, keeping always
the same distance. This work was get
ting to be very wearing. not to say dam
gerous particularly so as5darkness was
coming on and no sign of relief. Slowly
and cautiously Kruger prepared his mus
ket for a second shot. He raised, aimed.
and pulled the trigger, but again there
was only the snap of the cap, and kru-
ger saw himself face to face with a lion,
and no weapon. but the stock of a. USE
less rifle. The last snap Of the lock had
SO Infatuated the wild beast that he. made
a spring into the air and landed close to
Kruger's feet-so close, indeed, that the
earth was thrown UP into his face, and
he expected to be in the animals grasp:
He raised his gun to deal the animal
blow but at this the lion retreated, glanc-
ing sullenly over his shoulder, until he
was about fifty yards away then, as
though by sudden impulse, the beast
broke into furious gallop and disap-,
peared over the next hill.
Kruger joyfully resumed his race, and
in spite of all that happened, easily car
ried off the prize from the Kafir chiefs.
Kruger had no equal as runner. He
was also famous for his skill with the
rifle. Indeed, he would have challenged
the best of Buffalo Bills outfit and given
good account of himself. An old friend
of Kruger told me, of his own knowledge,
that Kruger was once on horseback and
chased by an Infatuated buffalo. His
SON had 1ecome rathe; fatigued, and
the buffalo commenced to gain. The un-
equal chase promised to end disastrousiy
for the horse and it's rider, for the buffalo
J kept gaining, and would soon have his
horns in action. Then Kruger, per-
formed feat which his old friend re-
called to me with great pride. He turned
in his saddle, raised his rifle, took de
sliberate aim while his horse was in full
gallop. fired. and the buffalo fell, shot
straight through the forehead.
But Kruger himself never lets one, sus-
pect that he has done these things; and
to look at him in church one would think
that he had been trained for the post of
deacon or .church-warden.
Another story, equally strange, was
told me by the same friend. It happened
ON the same day on which the previous
adventure occurred. He had been chas-
ing another buffalo, and his horse had
brought him close up to his victim. Sud-
denly the huge beast put his foot into a
| hole, and fell head over heels into a wall
! low. Kruger was ON top OF it in mo-.
ment, horse and rider and buffalo rolling
pell-mell in the same big puddle. But
Kruger was the first to collect his wits.
He sprang at the head of the buffalo,
seized both its horns in his hands, and
! while the beast lay upon its side, twist
ed its neck so as to force its nose under
| water; ard thus, after struggle Of
| sheer strength, Kruger killed the buffalo
| by drowning it. I had heard this story
already in Cape Town, but would not 1ss
;tbelieve it until had the presid dents cor
Froboration of this extraord binary feat. I;