Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-09-12

malodorous creature. but kept follow
ing it, charging close up behind It at
one moment, then falling back.
The other larger lions or lioresses
squatted at distance in the grass: and
watched it,
Stones and bushes were constantly
DETECTING the direction of the motor
carriage; and before long it ran into
another larger bush, or clump OF
bushes, that brought it to q standstill,
although it continued putting and
pushing at the obstruction.
For some time the lions watched it.,
but grew listless or Indifferent to the
performance, and went out toward the
black-maned lion with the buck.
He was not disposed to divide with
them, and greeted their approach with
menacing growls. All four then
sQuatted down to watch him with
snarls and envious looks, and Hill now
made the mistake of thinking that he
might get down and possess himself of
his carbine-as he would have to go
no more than $50 feet, and the lions
were now three times that distance
away.
He fancied that the gyrations of the
automobile had caused them to for
get him, if, indeed, they had ever really
noticed his escape.
But descending the inclined tree
trunk slowly proved a more difficult
feat than running up rapidly; when
part way down he slipped and slid to
the ground, making some noise. Re-
gaining his feet as nimbly as possible,
he glanced hastily toward the lions
only to see, to his dismay, that one of
the two young ones had heard or seen
him and was bounding toward him;
also that the other three had started
up and were about to follow.
Nothing remained for it but to make
a dash back up the slanting tree
trunk. When about halfway up he
nearly lost his foothold, and barely
saved himself from tumbling back.
The lion was close upon him. With
an ugly growl it attempted to ascend
the tree trunk, and thrust up paw
with extended nails; but it lost its
footing and fell into the dry grass be-
low. A moment later it dashed up the
trunk again, but was not agile enough
to pass the obstructing upright branch,
behind which Hill was sheltering him
self.
The lion clung, however, growing
and snarling, with one paw clasped
around the branch. Hill could have
retreated further into the top of the
tree, but he feared that the lion might
work it's body around the branch and
effect lodgment in the top itself. He
had strong pocket knife, and cutting
smaller limb for a club, struck the
lion so stiff a blow with it that the ami
NAL, uttering a roar, fell to the ground
Infnriated by the blow, the beast in
stantly charged up third time; but
Hill had now secured a good hold with
his left hand, and dealt such blows
with his club at the brute's head and
paws that again it leaped to the
ground, roaring and snarling from
baffied rage. It's outcries melted the |
others to make an attack; and amidst |
first one, then another, and soon two |
or three at time came charging uI |
the tree-trunk. Only one, however. |
could approach the difficult point or |
passage around the upright, branch; |
and whenever paw was thrust about |
the branch Hill hammered it with the |
club so vigorously as nearly to crush |
it.
Two of the lions were already bleed
to have had enough of the effort to |
scale the tree-trunk; but they had be-
come wrought up to such a state of |
fury that Hill had little hope that they
would leave the place that night.
A fresh eXpedient presently suggest
ed itself, however; Hill had matches in
his pocket, and gathering wads of dry
bark or moss from the tree-trunk, he [
ignited them and then dropped them
into the dry grass under the tree. Soon
a ring of fire and smoke began to
spread The four lions finally made off
through the fringe of trees, and soon
Hill saw the one that had killed the
duiker-bok bounding away with the
in it's mouth.
Although far from certain that the
lions would not return and attack him,
Hill was forced to descend and run to
the automobile before the fire reached
it, lest there might be an explosion of
his fuel tank and cartridges.
The Little Ajax was still putting
away at the obstructing bush, all
ready to go on when released Hills.
first thought was of his carbine; but
the fire was close upon the machine,
and after single glance about him
through the smoke, he backed out of
the bush and went on at speed The
lions did not pursue him.-Youth's