Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-09-27
again, as II looking for its master ana
loath to leave him behind.

alike from what they saw, heard and
smelled. They backed off and came
round in the rear of the machine, eylng
II with doubt and disfavor. When II
turned they doubled to the rear of It
again; and the big lion with the buck,
when he saw it coming in his direc-
tion, 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 not 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 1t at
one moment, then falling back.
The other larger lions or lionesses
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 standstill,
although it continued putting andpust-
ing at the obstruction.
For some time the lions watched n,
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 squat
ted 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 car
bine-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 forget
him, If, indeed, they had ever really
noticed his escape.
But descending the inclined tree
trunk slowly proved 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 is 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 il but to make
dash back up the slanting tree-trunk.
When about halfway up he nearly lost
his 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 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 obstructingupright 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 re-
treated farther into the top of the
tree, but he feared the lion might
work its body around the branch and
effect lodgment in the top itself. He
had strong pocketknife, and cutting
a smaller limb for a club, struck the
lion so stiff a blow with it that the an
imal, uttering a roar, fell to the ground.
Infuriated 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. It's 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 1t.
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
bounding away with the
carcass in its 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
1t, lest there might be an explosion Of
his fuel tank and cartridges.
The Little Ajaxwas still putting away
at the obstructing bush, all ready to
go when released. Hills first thought
was 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 Companion.
Her Charm for the Boys.
MI