El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-27

THE LION TURNED A soMERSAULT.
wire fence of a small pasture about
two miles from the house Riding
wire fence is making a tour of in
spection to see that the wires are all up
and the posts solid. AS the girl started
out she swung the belt of her WincheS-
ter over the gatepoSt, remarking that
she was not going far and wouldn't
need n gun. She was hardly out of
sight before an immense Mexican lion
sprang out in the road in front of the
pony. The beast gave few loud roars
and then disappeared in the direction
of a small bunch of cows and calves.
Starting her pony at full speed and
yelling at the lion as if she possessed
the power in her voice to paralyze all
wild beasts. she rode straight toward
the terror stricken cattle. coming up
with them just as the lion sprang upon
the neck of calf, crushing it to the
earth.
The old cows instantly charged the
lion, and the mother of the calf gave
him such thrust with her sharp horns
that he was forced to relinquish his
hold on his prey. The sight of the
trembling, frightened little calf arous-
ed the girls ire, and, swinging her rope
over her head, she rode at the lion.
The beast frequently looked back
| and Snarled threateningly. but he fail
! ed to find courage enough to offer bat
| tie. Suddenly it occurred TO the girll
! that there was no reason why she
| could not choke the lion to death. She
| swung her lariat over her head and as
the trained pony sprang forward drop.
| ped the moose about the lions neck
| The pony instantly braced himself OF
! his launches, digging his fore feet into
| the ground. and the lion turned 4 SOM
ersault. striking the earth with his
| head toward his purSuerS. The girl
hoped that she had broken the, beasts
neck, but he was only badly stunned
and the pain that he suffered seemed
to increase his rage and courage.
Crouching and emitting a roar, he
sprang into the air with all his,
strength, expecting to land. ON the po--
ny's neck and tear his pursusrs to frag-
, ments. The agile little horse turned
just in time to feel the claws of the
lion grazing his launches.
All western horses entertain Il horror
| of these lions. for one of their tricks is
| to lie in ambush on the limb of tree
| near where the horses are in the habit
| of drinking. From these hiding places
| they fall upon young colts and devour
them. The Texas pony knows the
| Mexican lion, and he fears him more
than all other enemies.
| So instantly as the lion sprang for
ward the pony began to run. The rope
was tense. and if she had wished TO do
| It the girl could not have unfastened
| the lariat from the saddle horn. More
| over. she knew the chances were that
| if the lion We're released in his state of
rage he would tear the pony and her
| self to bits. She leaned forward and
| urged her frightened mustang TO do his
| best.
! She reached the ranch gates ut her
| home just as her sisters. accompanied
| by two young men of the neighbor-
| hood. Were about to pass through it on
| their way to church.
| There now she shouted. - have
| roped and dragged Il lion To death.
Her speech of triumph was cut short
| by Il warning scream from one of her
! sisters. who noticed that the lion was
| about to regain his feet and renew the
| battle. One of the Texans sent Il bull
| let through the monsters brain and
ended his c.lreer.-St. Louis Republic.