Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-08-24

Only there was the sound of a brute's
heavy gallop over the sand between the
wadi and our camp, mighty roar, fol-
lowed by a thud, as donkey was felled
to the ground, while his dying bray rang
out piteously on the night air; slight
noise of struggle few more stifed
brays-and then silence, followed a mo-
ment later by the sound of a heavy body
being dragged across the sand.
After the first shock of excitement l
had grasped my rifle and run toward
the men. When the lion began to drag
the carcass of the donkey into the brush
I moved instinctively toward the sound,
at which the guide cried quickly, "Ka-
dabhar, sahib! bara kahid janwar !"
(Have care, sir! A very dangerous
animaD I turned to upbraid them for
their .cowardice in permitting the lion
to take one of Our pack animals before
their very eyes, but remembering that
the Somal has an inherent fear of the
lion, thought better of it and returned
to my tent, resolving to square accounts
with the marauder on the morrow if he
could be found.
was awakened at sunrise the follow
ing morning, and, rubbing my eyes
sleepily, found the darkness and the lion
had faded away together, while the
wadi was alive with the notes of birds
and wild fowl. After hasty Breakfast
I filled my jacket pocket with cartridges
and, accompanied by the Somal guide,
Juno (who was an unusually expert
tracker and hunter), started on the
spoor of the lion. At the end of mile
we came upon the half-eaten carcass of
the donkey, lying at the edge Of small
thicket. A little careful accommodating
convinced us the lion was not in the i'm
mediate neighborhood, and after a little
we found his trail, leading away from
the thiclet 1t had ralned lightly dur
ing the early morning, and we found it
exceedingly difficult to follow the spoor
over the sand, which was covered with
thin growth of grass. When we had
followed it for mile Or more, it finally
led toward large thicket, some 200 or
more yards in diameter, which was sur
rounded with a margin of tall, dry
s
Lion there, sure, sahibH' whispered
the Somal, who had been following the
(to me) obiterated spoor with all the
caution and skill of bloodhound. Zone
of us must go to the other side, and the
other go on from the front, so he will
not pass through"
"You may go around" replied, and
after examining my rifle to make sure
it was in perfect order, | cautiously ap-
preached the thicket.
I could at first see no sign of the
lion, and was about to call to the Somal,
when I suddenly made out the backs of
two large yellow animals nearly hidden
in the tall grass, and moment later
discovered there were two cubs with
them. They wre evidently disturbed,
but were gazing in the direction taken
by the Somal, not apparently having no
ticed me. A moment later a fine lion
sprang out in the open, and, seeing me,
less than fifty PAGES distant, gave low
groWl and disappeared into the thick
brush The other, lioness, stood look
ing about, evidently reluctant to leave
her cubs. She was watching me closely,
giving me an occasional side view of
her teeth as she emitted a kind of whin-
in growl.
A lions yellow eyes are singularly
impressive, especially if they happen to
be watching you, some fifty yards dis
tant, with only the open, level ground
between. They incline one to discretion,
and it was with the utmost caution |
approached nearer in order to get with
in shooting distance, her eyes following
my every move as I did SO, and watch
ing intently on my part for the first sign
of coming charge. When | had ar
rived to within perhaps twenty yards,
she turned in the direction of the thick
ct, giving me an excellent view of her
side, and aiming at the point of her
shoulder, I pressed the trigger. With a
loud roar she sprang into the air and
seemed to fairly fly back through her
lair [ quickly threw in another cart
ridge and fired at her side just as she
disappeared into the thicket, and sec
ond later heard the roar of the SomaPs
elephant gun on the opposite side, fol-
lowed by the roars of lion. Hasten
ing around, came On the scene just in
time to see the old fellow on one knee,
in the act of discharging his second bar
rel into the very mouth of the lion,
which was charging straight for him.
AS he fired he sprang quickly to one
side, while the. beast turned complete
somersault, but was on its feet in an in
slant and stood wavering, evidently too
sick to attempt another charge. was
about to fire when it fell over on its
side, and after several attempts to regain
its feet, dropped bacl-dead. After
making sure it was done for, we re-
traced Our steps to the opposite side of
the thicket and cautiously approached
the place where the lioness had disap-
peared We had not proceeded far when
we came upon her, lying across small
pool of water formed by feeble spring,
breathing her life out, so nearly dead
she was unable to rise at our approach.
A ball between the eye and ear ended