River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-09-12

! missed its throw and with a terrible
blow from her powerful paw, the
lioness stretched Artaxerxes unscon.
scious at her feet. Arrio9 at a dis
lance had descended from his chariot
and was in the thick of his combat
with his wounded foe Amytis was
the only one whose weapons were free.
With cry of rage and terror she
| leaped to the side of her brother.
Alorus rushed to her assistance, but
she cried out furiously, Mine, mine.
| will avenge my brother"
Across the body of the king the
| Goness looked at the woman. They
measured each other with their eyes.
Another instant and the lioness had
| leaped to the attack. Amytis was
armed only with dagger as she stood
fearlessly and faced the raging beast
| About her the palm trees made cir.
Gle of shadow, but in the open space
where she stood the moonlight fell as
bright as day. The movements of the
woman and the lioness were graceful
catlike, similar With sinuous, hypo.
critical feints and sudden bounds thew
| joined the combat. Amytis' blazing
eyes were fixed upon the red eyeballs
which glared furiously in her face
They parried each others thrusts
with astonishing dexterity, the lion.
ess with her formidable paw, the wo.
man with her dagger. The contest
lasted for an eternity, so it seemed
to the band of soldiers who stood back
in dire CONSERVATION, daring not to
interfere. They feared that the
strength, if not the skill, of the wo.
man would yield the first, but Amytis
arm as it flashed with its jeweled
weapon back and forth in graceful
feline sweeps, seemed made of steel
The honess whipped her tail upon her
quivering tanks and roared again and
again.
A sudden Whit of wind blowing
fresher in the deepening night tossed
the branches of the palm trees. A
shadow fell across Amytis' eyes and
long lock of her hair fioated across her
shoulder and blew into her face. She
raised her hand to brush it away, and
in that instant with growl the lion
ess gripped her arm and with quick
snatch of her terrible paw tore away
the tunic from her shoulder; another
blow and she had brought the prin.
cess to her knees AT this moment
Arrion, victorious, had drawn his drip
ping iavelin from the body of his fall
en- foe, and emerged from the shad-
ow of the palm trees just in time to
see Amytis on her knees before the
lioness, her right arm disabled, torn
and bleeding. He dashed forward with
his spear appraised, and in his flight his
quick thought realized that there was
no time to reach her side with his
dagger. His only chance was to throw
the dripping weapon which he held
in his hand. Alorus and others of the
guard seemed paralyzed with fright
and, although advancing, were fatally
far away. Could he trust his eye and
hand at such distance? No choice
| He raised his weapon and it sped
straight as an arrow flashing sudden
ly in the moonlight. A whizz and then
a thud. 1t struck the lioness in the
side and brought her to the ground
Another instant and Amytis, freed
with a dexterous left hand stroke
buried her own weapon in the throat
of the lioness. 1t was the last effort
of her strength, for when Arrion
reacher her side, with a sigh she
reeled and fell fainting upon the dead
body of her foe.
By this time Alorus and his soldiers
had reached the spot, with Themisto
cles, who bent over the still uncon
scious king. And soon the other char,
lots drew near and they were sur
rounded by an excited crowd, lament.
ing and crying aloud with ordinations
of CONSERVATION and despair. Themis
tocles and Arrion alone were calm, and
the latter, watching intently the pale
features of the king, motioned them
to silence, for he saw that he was
: stirring to consciousness. But when
} he opened his eyes they fell upon a
terrifying sight. The two lions were
: dead indeed, but Amytis, white and
apparently lifeless. lay in the arms OF
: Arrion. Artaxsrxes groaned and tried
feebly to rise.
: "Fear not, oh king" cried Themis.
tocles, "Amytis lives. Arrion hath
J saved her"
The young Jew bent over Amytis
white-faced and breathing quickly, he
lifted her read upon his arm. The
black mass of her hair flowed back
from her face. She looked helpless
and weak, and once more womanly
j Suddenly her dark eyes Enclosed, gaz,
ing appealingly into Arrion's face.
Fear not, Princess" he answered.
| soothingly. "The king lives and thou
! art safe"
? a look of JOY spread over her face
; as she gazed into his softened, tender
6 eyes, then smiling bravely, she strug
, gled to her feet, Arrion still support.
| ing her.
Il thank thee, Arrion," she cried in
: her clear voice, 81 owe thee my life
And with an imperial gesture she held
S out her arm to the lips of the young
Jew. Blood was dripping from its
| L. u