The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-08-28

malOuOrOuS creature, Dut kept 1OllOW-
ing il, charging close up behind II at
one moment, then falling back.
The other larger lions or lionesses
squatted at distance in the grass and
watched IL.
Stones and bushes were constantly
DETECTING the direction of the motor
carriage; and before long II ran into
another larger bush. or clump OF
bushes, that brought II to a standstill,
although 1t continued putting and
pushing at the obstruction.
For some time the lions watched 1t,
but grew listless or Indifferent to the
performance, and went out toward the
black-mcred lloa 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, il, 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 10 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 nad 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 its body around the branch and
effect lodgment in the top itself. He
had strong pocket knife, and cutting
a smaller limb for club, struck the
lion so stiff blow with it that the ami
NAL, uttering a roar, fell to the ground.
Infuriated by the blow, the beast in
stantly charged up a 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
baflled rage. Its outcries melted the
others to make an attack; and amidst
a horrible chorus of roars and growls,
first one, then another, and soon two
or three at a 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 about
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 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
carcass in its mouth.
Although far from certain that the
lions would not return and attack him,
Hi 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 cagbine; but
the fire was close upon the machine,
and after q single glance about him
through the smoke, he backed out OF
the bush and went on at speed. The
Companion.