Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
For the Royal Zoo.
TCopyright. l9Oa. by r. D. Marshall.l

Copyright, 1903 by r. D. Marshall1
We were in South Africa capturing
wild beasts for the Royal Geological
gardens of London when we got word
that q lion had entered a cattle kraal
about five miles away the night pre-
vious and killed and carried off
steer. We made for the spot at once
and began digging n pit.
When our pit was completed, ii was
10 feet long, feet wide and II feet
deep, and we cut and drew up n lot
of heavy poles to place across ii in
case we had to keep him prisoner for
two or three days.
1t was a full moon that night, and
from the post in one of the huts L
caught sight of the lion at about 8
o'clock. He came to within 200 feet of
the kraal and shifted the air as if his
suspicious had been aroused. He was
fine target for rife, but under the
circumstances lie was safe from my
fire. The cattle soon scented him and
crowded to the other side of the pen,
and the dogs of the village likewise
made great fuss but his lordship was
not in the least put out. L could not
have seen him better by daylight
Aside from his name there were black
tufts on his legs, with a black plume
at the end of his tail, and 1 was de-
termined to make him my prize if it
took a year of waiting and planning.
The lion scented danger, however,
and sheered off, and we saw nothing
more from him that night. On the
next night he showed up before we
were on the lookout. The natives in
driving in the cattle had failed to
round up a yearling calf, and we heard
nothing from the estray until the lion
showed himself. Just at dusk he roar
ed loudly, and as the moon came up
we caught sight of him advancing upon
the kraal. The calf was on the other
side of the Enclosure keeping very
quiet, but as the lion stopped and
roared again the frightened animal be-
gan running around the pen to seek
for the gate. As he came around on
our side, running blindly and never
seeing the lion, the latter crouched and
sprang. AS he struck the calf he seized
it by the neck and wrenched it to right
and left, killing it on the instant. For
five minutes he stood facing us with
his claws on the carcass, growing de-
t1du Il man SIlOWD Oul-
side of a hut the lion would have
charged right at him. After awhile,
finding that his def was not accepted,
he picked up the calf and trOtted away
as a dog would with bone. Twice
before he reached the thicket he paused
to look back, but we had no thought
of moving out of our shelter.
AS the calf was not in good condi-
ton, the natives believed the lion would
return next night but he did not. Or
ders were issued for the people to keep
very quiet during the day and for the
herd to be penned an hour earlier than
usual.
On the second night after getting
the calf we heard the old fellow roar
ing good and strong as he left his lair,
and the head man said TO me:
I'VE are sure of him this time.
Can't you tell by his roar that he is
hungry?"
1t is doubtful if the lion ever roars
because of hunger. His roar may rath-
er be considered challenge to his en-
emies. The natives insisted, however,
and they were right, except that he
did not appear as soon as expected.
He went off in the other direction, roar
ing at intervals and perhaps looking
for change of diet
1t was close on to IL o'clock. and we