Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-02-27


the children had been left II was vcr
dark, and the Zulus had rome. Tn
poor little things were tied to a ire,
which stood apart from the clunl
about % feet. They were boy and
girl. The boy was gagged, and u,
poor little girl was in a dead faint fror
fright ] was about to cut them loose
when laundering roar, SO near tina
the ground trembled, made me clutcl
my spear in Mortified surprise. Idare,
not fire my heavy rifle, except as las
resort, for the report would surrl,
bring the Zulus. | looked toward III,
brush and saw two eyes, which clowet
ominously in the darkness. | PLACED
my spear against the tree, and held
ing the point in the direction from
which the lion must spring,I awaited
the attack.
he evidently saw the point Of the
spear, for he moved uneasily from sid.
70 side, as If seeking chance to iumr
byit' l followed his motions, till, with
an angry snarl, he sat upon his
launches. thus showing his intention
to Jump over 1t. For a moment he was
motionless, and then, good heaven! he
came As he went into the air, moved
the spear quickly under him. lie came
down upon 1t, breaking it in an instant.
His great paw struck me'-he put his
finger on the queer scar on his cheek
and fell with awful force against the
little girl. The lion lay motionless, for
the spear had entered his heart
III, with some difficulty, extricated
myself from under his heavy body,
which lay across my legs. found the
girl stone dead, but the boy was un.
hurt, and | could see by his staring eyes,
which showed white even in that dark.
ness, that he appreciated his terrible
position.
~ cut him loose, but left the gag IN
his mouth, for fear he might cry out |
placed the little fellow on my back and
ret out for the boats. When | reached
the edge Of the mud hole, heard the
bushes cracking and knew ut once ]
must face u new danger, and second
growl told me 1t was the other lion. I
fastened on, and had just reached
narrow strip Of dry clay between the
bushes and the mud hole, when | saw
the tell-tale eyes. ! got as near the
edge Of the Shiny swamp as possible,
and began to have some hopes Of es.
'ape, when she sprang at me with ter.
rife force. ! sprang down and towards
Ter, hoping she would jump over me.
She did, and not striking me us she ex-
oected, she hit her nose on the hard
lay, and turning a completed somer-
ault fell upon her back into the mud /
,ole. In an instant dealther a blow
With my cutlass, which added to her
confusion. struck her again, but she |
lashed the weapon from my hand, and |
urning over, began to struggle through |
he soft mud. ! knew she would be out
nd upon me In an instant. had no
ecoursc but to use my rife. took n
uick aim, fired, and she fell dead, but
whether from the shot or the tremen-
ous blow had dealt her with the cut
ass, could not say.
az picked up the boy, WHIP had
allen in the struggle, and fairly ran
oward the boats. could, however,
lake but slow progress in the dark.
ess, and besides my wounded fnce
aused me great agony. had almost
cached them, when tall Zulu doomed
p In my path, and the moment he
NV the boy he sprang before me.
here was no time for hesitation now.
raised my rife and fired. He gave a
rightful yell, and in moment found
was pursued. rushed on and down
le bank, just as the foremost Zulu
'ached the top. | sprang into the
oat which was pushed of at once,
I'D amid a shower Of spears we made
ar escape. left the boy at a villag-
Is where I knew he would be well
'eated, and soon returned to America
Having finished hisremarkable sto.
!, my friend excused himself and went
Dstairs.
:" went to the hotel clerk and asked:
"'What is that gentleman's namer
Smith, he replied.
"Who is hep
"'He is the steward Of the house,
MS the answer.
"'l'ut he has been a great traveller,
Is he not?' I asked.
" oh. no, he came here a green coun.
boy % years ago and has not been
way II week since
How did he get that scarY
eried.
Had n "scrapping match" with a
ok, and the fellow up with a three
ned meat fork and hit him a clip. He
n queer genius the clerk continued: .
'ople always try to size him up, and
matter what they guess he Is. he |
yes them some yarn to At the occa.
m
Give me the key to 66 and send
two pitchers OF ice water Mt once.
,ase.'
Look here said the clerk, what
you want with two pitchers Of ice /
ter at four O'Clock in the afternoon
II am going upstairs to soak nv
ID, growled; and IN went, mad.
thnn hornet, with the clerks mer.
laugh angling in my IN. Y. A
tger.
i have told you Of the Spaniard who
rays put on his spectaces when
mt to cat cherries, that they might " :,
Dlrwpr uu1 mora fampt;pr l. ~