Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-24

intruder And thus minute succeeded
minute, but TO the man endeavoring to
summon to his aid a fortitule that should
enable him to face death without lear each
one seemed like an hour-yca, a day.
Suddenly there calnc 70 his ear the dis
tant sound of a low, inUlfied roar. There
was no need 70 tell his trained car what il
meant He had heard it many, many
times before, but never had it brought to
his heart such feeling of sinking, sickec
ing horror as now. In a short time it WIS
repeated, and this time it was unmistak
ably nearer than before. Then there fcl-
lowed a long period OF silence, so long, in
fact, that the captain really began to think
that a kind fate had directed the lions
steps in another direction
In the meantime the moon had risen;
but, owing TO the density Of the foliage,
its rays lighted up the surrounding forest
only very meagerly. The tree to which
the captain was fastened was iii the center
Of a smsli open space, one side of which
was quite brightly lighted by the moons
rays. Suddenly the captain noticed an
agitation among the bushes on this side,
and in another moment there glided
stealthily into view the crouching figure of
a great lion He had evidently had the
scent OF his intended~sictim for some time
past, and as he eptersd the open space and
suddenly confronted him he crouched like
a cat abeut to spring upon its prey. His
great eyes glowed and blazed with the
fever of anticipation; his huge jaws, fpem
which saliva thickly depended, slowly
worked to and fro as though in imagina
ton closing upon the human Inorsel.
L Slowly he began to draw closer TO his
helpless victim, but after advancing n few
feet he stopped, and, as though fearing
trick of some kind, he arose to his feet and
slowly and carefully walked around the
H., Il: L -;
though anxious to assure himself that he
was not being led into trap, for the con-
tinued irnmovable posture and silence of
the man had made him very suspicious.
Then. seeming to have satisfied himself
that the way was clear, he advanced to-
ward the man again. This time he ap-
preached to within few feet of him, but
whether it was the subtle influence of the
undaunted spirit that shone out through
the determined white face that confronted
him heknew not, but the great beast stop
ped, and, uttering low growl, half of an
ger and half of fear, slowly backed away
from his victim. several times was this
repeated, the lion on each succeeding occa-
sion approaching his victim little nearer.
At last. seeming to realize tho utter
helplessness of the man, he boldly APP
preached him, the great head was thrust
out toward one the mans thighs, and the
huge mouth began opening for the fatal
hold. But for some strange reason the
man cater suddenly charged his mind
and, raising on his hind legs, he placed
his huge fcrcpaws on the mans breast and
started to seize him by tho shoulder.
oh, how sickening and overpoweripg
wore the fumes of that hot, feth breath!
Inspired by the terror and despair of the
moment, the captain gave Htterance to a
most piercing cry. Delivered right in tho
ear of the lion, it startled him greatly, and
he sprang back. One of his huge feet had,
however, become fastened in the thong
which boand the captain, and in the
mighty effort which he put forth TO free
himself he broke it.
1t released the captain S arms, and with
the quick instinct of self preservation he
seized the asscgai imbedded in tine tree
just above his head. The lion Immediate
ly reuIrned to the attack anu with an an
CRY roar raised on its hind legs for another
try at the man ; shoulder. His arms were
stiff ana lame from their long pinioning,
but the strength of despair ncrved them,
and as the lions great chest rose up from
the ground the man met il with u savage
thrust Of the asscgai. He was always
very powerful man, but such strength did
the terrible stress of the moment give him
that he drove the Keen steel over Il foot
into the great brute's breast. With a ter
rible cry the man cater raised himself con-
to his fCll height and then pitch |
ed forward upon the captain, falling dead
at his feet.
The reaction from the awful strain I'M
der which he had so long labored was so |
great that il was several moments before |
the captain could summon sufficient |
strength TO pull the assegai from the dead |
lion and sever the remaining thongs which |
bound him.
It was soon done, however, and with |
what emotions of JOY and gratitude it was
that he found himself free again His Sit |
uation even then was very periloUs, but he |
forgot everything in the overwhelming JOY |
of his escape and il the realization that |
he was again free.
After two days OF wearisome flight |
through the forest he fortunately found |
his friends again, who had started for the |
kings kraal, being satisfied as to the |
cause of his disappearance and determined |
TO rescue him or perish in the attempt,
few Gays. they enrolled a con-
force of natives. after which they
marched OF the king s krGal. 7 re vii
old chief and his doctor tried to ambush
them, but failed deplorably, and in the
conflict which followed both were killed,
with many of their followers. Both fell |
to the captains uncrring aim, and he re-
marked with a grim smile, 1T was the
most satisfactory double shot that 1 ever
made in all my IifA