The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-09-03

hurried out into the moonlight to follow
| I'm the direction Of the solemn sound. Long
and cautiously they sought. but In valh'
| end not until daylight had put out the
| paler glitter of the moon did they return
| to finish the sleep so suddenly broken.
To follow the lights and shades, the
| joys and disappointments of hunting
| party would be tedious to the reader
who can find many sucn pictures hmned
| by more potent pens than this. II Is
| well, therefore, not to let our stay lag
1t was the fourth day after FORESTER
| and st. Maur had left Ravenscleugh when
they had their first chance of an encount-
| er with a lord of the forest.
| They had started on their quest rather
| later than usual, repeated disappoint-
| ment having dulled their energy, when
| walking along the bank of small stream
| flowing from the fountain above describ-
ed. loud rustling among the reeds ana
| long grass which grew plentifully In the
| space between 1t and the edge of the
forest attracted the attention of the dogs
which accompanied them. They barked
| complainingly and strained In the leash
| which held them.
LET co." said North to Kapain. the
| native who held them. There's some
| thing bigger than a waterbuck IN there'
Released, the two dogs sprang III iu
rious haste through the streamiet ana
forced their way through the bit or Jun
gle before them, barking and yelping all
the time. a low growl followed ana tneh
to the delight and nervous terror Oh o'.
Maur two lions male and female, staikeu
maiestically out into the open. 80,
The lion was large and full grown, with
a splendid tawny name some SHADES darn
er than his coat. the lioness was smaiier.
less handsome and seemed older, both
nt,y;v v.yfr
were probably the first men they hao
ever seen (natives pretty generally steer
clear of lions) the lion stood gazing LOT
a minute or two. thoughtfully ana SLOWLY
digging the claws of his right paw into
the heritage beneath him and drawing IL
up with an upward and inward turn as
| tinctly interrogative. Just as the pet
ted household cat does while she watches
to see If YOU are going to pour out hef
overdue saucerful of milk.
Don't give him time to make up his
| mind St Maur" cried North, mark his
| eye" just then the dogs came up bark
| ing behind the grand looking beast, who
uttered an angry growl, dashed his tail,
| and moved toward the stream which ne
! could easily have bounded st. Maur
| tried to be very steady and he seemed
firm enough. but his shot did not touch
| the spot aimed at. 1t only grazed the
] animals side. raising his wrath, but not
i really hurting him.
He again -rowled an Infatuated. terrific
growl, and made n rush forward. Nortn
| seeing that he would be on them in an
! other second sent a ball into his head.
With sort of strangled cry he fell
and after a brief struggle he lay stark
| and grim Meantime Forester. who SEEM
| ed rather apathetic for a keen sportsman,
as he was supposed to be, had fired at the
| lioness and wounded her. but not severe
ly Astonished at her own injuries ana
| terrified to see the partner of her joys
| and sorrows immovable, she turned and
| limped away with surprising speed INTO
! the shelter of the forest behind her. Then
| her assailants crossed the brook TO ex-
! anime the victim, st. Maur in Wild state
/ of exultation.
There, Forester What do you say
( TO that? Hit the very first lion L ever
saw" he cried, for having been fright
ened and confused, naturally enough py
the sudden appearance of the formidable
! quarry for which they had sought so
! diligently, he was scarcely conscious that
| North had fired and quite believed he
| had bagged the royal brute himself.
by Jove. st. Maur! That's the coolest
! bit of rcheek | ever heard. Do you mean
| to say you believe you shot the Hon?
Why, you'd have been a dainty dish TO
set before his majesty by this II North
/ hadn't fired in time"
North! Why. North shot that lion as
! much as you shot that wilde beest away
near Bladen's poort.' Forrester's dark
eyes shot forth a glance of fury and con-
tempt that might have killed could the
| deadly desire they expressed have been
! fulfilled
North. I say North! Didn't 1 shoot
| that beast lying there?" cried st. Maur
/ oil 1nDG1l.
| I'VE managed II between u.s." returned
! North. smiling indulgently at the others
| boyish eagerness land we must see that
he is carefully skinned for you Will want
/ TO present the skin to Lady marlborough,
! I expect. That's the reason j brought
! that fellow Bowl with us. lie Is great
| hand at skinning beasts, and this one
has n remarkably fine coat st. Maur
walked on ahead and was soon lost In
! contemplation of his prize.
"Why do you help TO initiate that DOCK
| heads conceit?" said Forester viciously.
| .,Whv I should as soon think of NOR
| tifvipr a child. He may be blockheau'
! but he's a good fellow. and he was so
| horribly vexed because every one pelleVeS
| he shot me instead of that wildebeest
| that | am not sorry 10 give MN d Di' Va
| comfort" said North
! A change passed over Forresters couh-
! tenance: he looked away into the forest
! and did not speak for n few seconds.
! then he said in an altered tone, we
! ought to finish the lioness. l daresay the
dogs will soon track her"
| ut is not worth while" returned North.
/ Her skin is no great thing. Wen find
game better worth our powder and shot.
| our fellows shall put up a hut for us to
sleep in. l fancy we'll find lots OF sport
here. as the drought drives wild animals
southwards."
| AS may be imagined, Forester made no
| further comments on the absurdity of St.
| Maur's pretensions to be crack shot
| and the trio settled down to very happy
| unanmity of opinion as to their own
| skill. the superiority of sport and big
| game in South Africa. and the extraordi-
| nary success which attended them.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Having exhausted himself and his hear
els by discussing the art of killing lions
from every point of view. and expound-
ing his ideas dictatorially to North as IL
he were considerably the more expert
enced hunter of the two. st. Maur got out
his writing materials and proceeded to
put his experience on paper. saying TO
Forester as he settled himself to what
al r..