New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-19
TILE CHARGE or THE LION
| SHOOTING THE KING OF BEASTS AT ,
FEW YARDS DISTANCE.
II. Seton Karr. in The Royal Magazine.


After We had gone fifteen miles. winding N
and out among the mimosa bushes the tvs
horsemen pointed overhead TO the blazing zone
and saw hundreds Of vutures flying at an i'm.
mense altitude. DismOuntinR and adyancln,
alone on foot with my rifle, / soon caught sight
of the dead camel The lion was crouching be-
hind il, and appeared almost exactly Of the sam.
color as his prey. | was within eighty or ninety
yards when the lion sprang out toward me and
remained for some moments mOtioness In de.
fant attitude, his fOrepaws extended, mis- head
near the ground. but his back ar"hed. Suppos-
ing he might be coming for me ! reserved nv
fre-besides the distance was too great FOR an
absolutely certain shot-so that I might give
him my two barrels at close quarters a. he was
charging down at me. After that Fncw must
trust 20 luck, as | had no second rifle or guo-
bearer. and should have no time to reload
After We had thus regarded each other FOR
some seconds the lion turned slowly and lum.
bered heavily away. ! was sorry since he had
not charged that | had not fired, and sent
bullet screaming after him through the bushes
as better late than never. | was soon IN the sad
die and away upon his tracks AZ "A tdllop. ac-
cOmpanied by the mountain guides The lion
soon stopped under a small mimOsa bush
crouching and glazing at US with waving tai
as we rode round | then approached on foot
The brute now swaying his tail and body
from side to side with much energy, and clearly
upon the point Of charging down L. kiil me.
AS ! walked round 10 get flank shot into his
shoulder the lion moved so as 70 face me. keep.
ing his body invisible, and rendering chance
shot very hazardous, tNt bTdlN bfti4N AH' rnl!
vital part to aim for. II one Of the horsemeo
had only ventured near or II the lions atten.
ton could have been distracted for moment
toward another foe he might have turned and
given me my opportunity Of fatally Gripping
him. The only issue was now the death Of The
lion or Of myself, or both. Which II was to b
depended on the accuracy Of my aim and the
GOODNESS OF hand and eye. Every instant the
beast like a huge cat after bird. was working
himself up for the inevitable charge. lashng aus
great nanks with his tail | remember wonder.
ing al that supreme moment whether the p)pJ-
lar superstition that on the end Of his tail a
lion has a claw or sharp point wherewith TO gosd
himself on to the attack could have any ground
work Of fact
now gave up all hope of An easy shot and
feeling that further delay was impossible. as ne
might deliver his charge AZ any moment !
sat down. and resting my elbows on my knees,
fired twice at his head through the bush at
distance OF about sixty yards. These shots failed
to Kill. and utterlng h0arse groNls. the lion
edged round the bush facing me and keeping
low up0n the ground. | reloaded quickly and
standing upright So as 70 clear the grass. fred
my right barrel downward AT his head. The
lion Immediately rose 70 his feet and charged
down upon me at full speed running swift and
low ONLY my left barrel remained. and. cover.
ing his chest with the sights ~ my Hue as ne
neared me | pulled the trigger. |heh ne WS
a few wards distant Exactly what the lion did
no man will ever know. unless The natives saw.
As stepped hastily to one side, reoadng, was
struck by a shower Of stones and hdt olnd
ID by a cloud of sand and dust The lion
must have passed close 10y me, and swung ao-
ruptly round under cover Of the smoke.
When the dust cleared away | saw the Ion
under the bush again-the same Old bush He
had delivered his charge. and Il had failed II
was a sick and sorry beast, anc evidently as
concerted and wounded unto death. | nov had
an easy side shot into his shoulder and quickly
put two bullets through his heart. ! had seen
one Of the Grandest sights OF Mrca-the charge
upon ones s.lf Of the wild African lion practical
ly carried home-a charge that few have SlS
tanned and yet come off unframed one can nave
too much Of a good thing. and the sight is'no' |
one that should desire TO see frequently.