The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1901-09-19

loath to leave him behind.
The lions were clearly nEstifed d.
alike from what they saw, heard ard
smelled. They backed off aLa cans
round in the rear of the machine, eying
it with doubt and disfavor. When it
turned they doubled to the rear of ii
again; and the big lion with the buck,
when he saw it coming in his direc-
ton, seized his prey in his mouth, and
with an angry growl bounded off out
Of the track of the queer monstrosity.
Then he stood up and roared again
Two of the other lions were net fully
grown. Apparently they did not quite
dare to spring upon the lifelike yet
malodorous creature, but kept follow
ing it, charging close up behind it at
one moment, then failing back.
The other larger lions or lionesses
squatted at a 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 staudstill,
although it continued putting andpush-
ing at the obstruction.
For some time the lions watched it,
but gre liStleSs or Indifferent 70 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
ncnacing groWls. All four then squat
led down TO watch him with snarls and
anvious looks, and Hill now made the
mistake of thinking that he might get
Town and possess himself of his car
bine-as he would have to go no more
han $50 feet. and the lions were row
hree times that distance away.
lie fancied that the gyrations Of the
automobile had caused them to forget
aim, If, indeed, they had ever really
noticed his escape.
But descending the inclined tree
runk slowly proved a more difficult
eat than running up rapidly; when
part way down he Slipped and Sid TO
he ground, making some noise. Rs
gaining his feet as nimbly as possible,
ne glanced hastily toward the lions
Dn,y to see to his diSmay that one of
he two young ones had heard or seen
aim and was bounding toward him;
also that the other three had started
up and were about to follow.
Nothing remained for il but to make
a dash back up The slanting tree-trunk.
When about halfway up he nearly lost
ais foothold, and barely saved him
self from tumbling back.
The lion was close upon him. With
an ugly growl it attempted TO ascend
the tree-trunk, and thrust up a paw
with extended nails; but il lost its
footing and fell into the dry grass be
ow A moment later it dashed up ths
trunk again, but was not agile enough
to pass the obstructingupright branch.
behind which Hill was sheltering him
self.
The lion clung, however, growing
and snarling with one paw claspeG
around the branch. Hill could have re
treated farther into the top of the
tree. but he feared the lion might
work its body around the branch and
effect a Judgment in the top itself, He
had a strong pocketllnife and cutting
a smaller limb for a club, struck the
lion so stiff a blow with it that the an
imal. utteringa roar. fell to the ground.
Infatuated by the blow, the beast
instantly charged up third time; but
Hill had now secured a good hold with
his left hand, and dealt such blows
with his club on the brute's head and
paws that again it leaped to the
ground, roaring and snarling from baf-
fled rage. Its outcries melted the 9th
ers to make an attack; and amidst a
horrible chorus of roars and growls,
first one, then another, and soon two
or three at time came charging up
the tree-trunk. Only one, however.
could approach the difficult point or
passage around the upright branch;
and whenever paw was thrust above
the branch. Hill hammered it with the
club so vigorously as nearly to
crush it.
Two Of the lions were already bleed
ing at the nose. and all four appeared
to have had enough Of the effort to
scale the tree-trunk; but they had be-
come wrought up TO such 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
carcass in its mouth.
Although far from certain that the
lions would not return and attack him.
Hill was forced 10 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 puffingawav
at the obstructing bush, all ready to
go when released. Hills FIRST thought
was his carbine; but the fire was