Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-09-05

and Arrion with his spear was at
close combat with the third. The
creature though wounded was making
a dangerous fight. Artaxerxes was,
for the moment, alone, standing by
the body of the lion slain by Mega
bysus. Suddenly a savage roar startled
the expectant king, but it came from
the al He turned quickly to face
the oncoming leap of a lioness, who
had advanced steadily upon him to
avenge the slaughter of her mate.
Was it anger at the interference of
Megabysus or a rash wish to show
his prowess? The king waited an
instant's space too long, his jayein
missed its throw and with a terrible
blow from her powerful paw, the
ioness stretched Artaxerxes unscon-
scious at her feet. Arrion 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 n whose weapons were free.
With a 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,
l. VI of0LSC NJ OAothCI
Across the body of the king the
lioness 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 a dagger as she stood
fearlessly and faced the raging beast.
About her the palm trees made a 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 s~inuous. hypo-
critical feints and sudden bounds they
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 hat the
strength, if not the skill, of the wo-
man would yield the first, but Amytis'
arm as it flashed with it's jeweled
weapon back and forth in graceful
feline sweeps, seemed made of steel.
The lioness 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. \
shadow fell across Amytis' eyes and a
1Onr 1noE 0f hor hoir Annfnl orrnSc hor
shoulder and blew into her face. She
raised her hand to brush it away, and
in that instant with a growl the lion
ess gripped her arm and with a 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 javelin 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
l~iOness, 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 a distance? No choice.
He raised his weapon and it sped.
straight as an arrow flashing sudden
~ in the moonlight. A whizz n 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 las 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-
and Arrion alone were calm, and
the latter, watching intently the pale
features of the king, motioned them
to silence, for he saw hat 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
~lifeless, lay in the arms of
Arrion. Artaxerxes groaned and tried
feebly to rise.
"Fear not, oh king" cried Themis-
tocles, "Amytis lives. Arrion hath
saved her"
The young jew ben V Amytis,
Nvhite-faced and breathing quickly. he
her head upon his arm. The
black mass of her hair flowed back
her face. She looked helpless
and weak. and once more womanly.
Suddenly her lark eyes Enclosed, gaz-
ing appealingly into Arrion's face.
"Fear not, Princess" he answered.
soothingly. The king lives, and thou
art safe"
y look of joy spread over her face,
as she gazed into his softened, tender
eyes, then smiling bravely. she strug-
gled to her feet. Arrion still support
her.
81 thank thee, Arrion," she cried in
her clear voice. 81 thee my life"
And with an imperial gesture she held