The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-04-11

One of our three Hottentot boys had
Just brought the news to MS. The sun
had barely topped The undulating nor
ZION, and the cleur-cut outline was
last emerging into the haze and SHIN
mer which betokened a scorching day.
We had finished our early coffee, and
were now preparing to revenge the
loss OF our OK. As it was Bob's sec
ond lion and my first, he, by virtue of
his experience, directed the process
oil vengeance. Come on, ," he said.
Don't talk as if we were going to
catch train, L remarked. aren't
you going to take more cartridges?"
I've got three, and there's only
one lion" answered BOB.
l felt that Maxim gun would have
been comfort; however, sitting this
vain wish. [ loaded myself with dozen
cartridges and the heaviest rifle we
bad, and announced myself ready.
We had not far to go. The HCttentot
had marked down the lion and its
prey, and we hoped to be in time TO
spoil the enemy's breakfast, or at
least to case some interruption there
to. We soon entered the elephant"
bush, and cautiously followed our
guide. There was strained intensity
about this walk, which ny seem unac-
countable to n good many, and ridicu-
lous to the rest; it may have been a
unique case and worth going into by
scientists, or it may have simply been
case of fright disguised in a cloak of
absorbing earnestncss and sinking de-
termination. However, we presently
came to a grassy open space. on the
edge of which the boy stopped aud
told us the lion was close
''Shake him up" said Bob.
thought this extremely silly. We
were not driving par,ridges. I fer
vently hoped the boy would not up
set or irritatc the lion by shaking him
up. 1t was not my idea of lion hunt
inc at all, and l said in a low, impress
sive voice, Don't spoil sport, Bob"
to which he replied, "Rotr (He
often used that rude word to me. He
had been six weeks longer in the
country than I had Look here. 8"
continued he, you shall have first
shot
We've got to find him first" 1
murmured.
Just then the Hotteutot creet back
and told us he had located the lion
about thirty yards or, that it was feed
ing on our OK, and refused TO be
shaken up. / thought it quite proper
of the beast to object to this rat-aud-
terrier style Of amusement; it seemed
10 mo so undignifed in lion hunting.
But Bob was not inclined 10 treat the
king OF the forest with much courtesy.
"Lnzy pig he muttcred, and
straightway made for the spot indi-
Gated by the boy. The graas was
knee deep, aud formed n patch of
about half an acre i'm extent. We
went on for a COUP. OF minutes, and
] began 10 hear ominOu5 rustlinqs all
round. Then the boy stopped aud
pointed 90 n spot i'm advance OF us.
We looked in that direction, and
whilst We stood listening. % grating
kind Of noise with n twaug i'm il was
distinctly audible. Going ON few
steps we distinguished amid The grass
tho hind legs Of an OK, boots upper
most, waving en- the air, aud half-a.
dozen PAGES farther disclosed the siiu.
alton entirely. There was our deed
beast extended on it's back, and be.
tween its hind legs lay tho lion feed.
ing ON tine vital parts Of tho poor an
imal
AZ FIRST we only saw the lions
shoulders, ON account Of it's head be.
ing low down, but Bob shouted.
"Get mp, you thiovug villain /
thought Bob was mad Slowly the
brute raised its head aud looked at ms.
10 was rot n taking face, nor was il
exactly handsome one. It was reek.
ing with blood, and from its jaws hung
portions Of torn flesh, which it wa