Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-19

woods, and fastening them together a
the waters edge, they soon had one bis
enough for their purpose.
With some light, long poles the boys
got on the raft and poled it out into tht
river. intending to take it across. Bu
as the wagon could not yet be heard
they called back that they would &c
| down to the ford and wait there.
| Howard started UP the river at once
when told that a lion had been trapped
| He was very much pleased to hear it
for he had pretty nearly despaired OF
| getting one. A man came with him to
drive and render any necessary assist
ance.
| AS the wagon came down the river
bank at the ford, Howard and the
driver saw the two boys sitting on their
raft about fifty yards above.
Come UP here!" shouted Arch, as the
driver started into the water.
ANY danger of quicksand?" asekd
the driver.
mo, good gracelly bottom" replied
George.
The water was scarcely hub deep at
the ford, but here it was up to the
wagon-bed. When the raft had been
poled against the hinder end of the
wagon, the two were so nearly on a
level that the cage was easily carried
from enc to the other.
The cage was a heavy box, about six
feet long, four feet high and three feet
wide. 1t was all lined with sheet-iron
except one side, which was open, with
numerous iron bars across it. There
were four rather long handles, two at
each end so that the cage could be car
ried conveniently.
While the driver was taking the wag-
on and team up into the woods, where
he tied the team to tree. Arch and
George poled the raft and its load over
to the west bank. Leaving Howsrd to
keep the raft away from the bank with
pole, they sprang ashore, holding to
rope, and walking along the bank, tow
ed the raft up stream. In a few min
utes they had reached the point nearest
the trap.
Then the cage was carried up the
bank and set down near the pen. The
lion growled furiously as the party ap-
preached, but Howard, who had had
plenty of experience with wild animals,
walked fearlessly up and began to
talk to him. He announced that he
was well pleased with the lion, which
was a larger one than he had expect
ed to get.
After the lion had become some
what accustomed to the sight of peo-
pie and the sound of their voices, the
end of the cage, which had a door in
it, was put close to the door of the
trap. Then with rails and other tim
beers a short passageway was made
from one to the other. Through this
the lion came with a rush, when the
door of the trap was raised. Probably
he thought he was about to escape, but
instead only found himself in stronger
prison.
The lion growled SO fieroely when the
cage began to move that George and
Arch We're on the point of letting so
the handles and retreating. But How
ard assured them that there was no
danger at all If they kept away from
the open side. When the cage had
been set on the raft all the party re-
manned on board except the driver, who
went by land.
The raft and its load We're floated
down to the ford, where the wagon was
already out in the water, waiting. AS
soon as the raft was in the right po-
sition, the cage was lifted over into the
wagon. The lion was still growing
his disapproval of the whole proceed
ngs, especially when anyone passed
near the bars.
well. boys, what are you going to
10 with it?' asked Howard. The dri-
rer was in his seat, ready to start. and |
Howard was in the hind end of the
wagon counting out their money to |
hem, seventy five dollars to each.
I'VE think We'll buy US gun apiece I
'eplied Arch. Don't know yet what |
we'll do with the rest of it,