Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-04-10

He had just time to notice that the
parent lions had started in the wake
of their young hopeful, the sight, as
may be imagined, only serving to ac-
celerate his pace. The tree was but
a short distance away; but to the
hunted it appeared a mile, expecting
every second to be struck down. 1t
was destitute Of branches for about
ten feet up, and how he managed
to climb it at all will forever remain
a mystery to him. Just as he thought
himself safe, however. there was a
terrific roar behind him, and he had
an uncanny feeling that he was being
dragged off the tree. The lion, out
stripping his mate in the chase, had
made his spring, missing his quar-
ry by a few inches only. Even as 1t
was, his huge claws tore away the
greater part of Mr.. Smiths trousers
and inflicted several fairly deep
scratches-a narrow escape indeed.
Exhausted and painting, trembling in
every limb, with the perspiration
streaming out Of him, he managed to
draw himself up into comparative Sc
curity, and here for nearly an hour he
remained in this dreadful position,
while the baff1ed lion, now Joined by
the lioness, ragged below, every now
and again making frantic springs,
when their fetid breath came so un-
pleasantly near as to almost bring on
nausea. The tree, 1t should be men,
ton, was a small maponda, about 1S
feet high.
At first Mr.. Smith could not under
stand what had become Of the young
lion, which went for him first, and, but
for the fact that he was not in posi-
ton to appreciate the humor of the
thing, he witnessed a sight which
must have been comical in the ex-
treme, though to it alone he is firmly
convinced his life was due. 1t seems
that Leo junior stopped half way to
examine the bicycle, which had been
flung down hastily, with the result
that the front wheel was left revolv-
ing.
This arrested the young lions at
tention, and, like a child with new
toy, he turned aside to examine this
curious phenomenon. Cautiously CIV
ing it pat with one Of his huge claws,
which only made it go round faster.
his wonder increased, and he sat down
on his launches regarding it with
puzzled air, and not for some time did
he join the parent couple at the foot
Of the tree; but not until he had
mouthed the machine considerably and
twisted the handlebar. During the
tenure of his unpleasant perch, Mr..
Smith cast many wishful glances In
the direction Of his double barrel gun
which was strapped to his bicycle; but
it might as we'll have been hundred
miles away. He cast his eyes about
in order to discover some place Of re-
treat so soon as the lions should retire,
and, to his great joy, saw a hut some
300 yards away. Just before dark his
captors began to pay less attention to
him, and, scenting the sable again In
the vicinity, by aid Of strong breeze,
they left after about three quarters Of
an hour, to the extreme relief of their
unfortunate prisoner. After waiting
for about half an hour, until every
thing was quiet, he cautiously de-
scended, and, not daring to go back for
his gun. fearfully made his way to the
hut referred to, making quick prints
from tree to tree. There was no roof,
and the hut was a flimsy structure;
but, after making the entrance as Sc
cure as possible, and kindling a fire,
he soon dropped off to sleep. At day.
break he was able to resume his jour-
ney, eventually reaching Gadzima
and Salisbury little the worse, beyond
very natural nervous shock, for his
experience (South Africa)
Herald.