The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-02-24
For the
Royal Zoo


gardens of London when we got wore
that lion had entered cattle kraal
about five miles away the night pre-
vions and killed and carried off a
steer. We made for the spot at once
and began digging a pit
When our pit was completed. it was
10 feet long, feet wide and II feet
deep, and we cut and drew up lot
Of heavy poles to place across it in
case we had to keep him prisoner for
two or three days.
1t was full moon that night, and
from the post in one of the huts l
caught sight of the lion at about Q
O'clock. He came to within 200 feet of
the kraal and shifted the air as if his
suspicious had been aroused He was IA
fine target for rifle, but under the
circumstances he was safe from my
IRE. The cattle soon scented him and
crowded to the other side Of the pen
and the dogs Of the village likewise
made a great fuss, but his lordship WAS
not in the least put out | could not
have seen him better by daylight.
Aside from his name there We're black
tufts on his legs, with black plume
ut the end of his TAIL and | was de-
ternlined 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 yearling calf, and we heard
nothing from the estray until the lion
showed himself. Just at dusk he roar
ed loudly. ana as the moon came M
We caught sight of him advancing upon
the kraal. The calf was on the other
Ede of the Enclosure keeping very
quiet, but as the lion stopped and
4Oared again the frightened animal be-
gan running around the pen to seek
Tor the gate. AS he came around on
our side, running blindly and never
seeing the lion, the latter crouched and
oprang. AS he struck the calf he seized
It by the neck and wrenched it to right
and left, killing it ON the instant. For
Ave minutes he stood facing us with
his claws on the carcass. growing de
dance. Had man shown himself out
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
rs dog would with a bone. Twice
before he reached the thicket he paused
10 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 We're issued for the people to keep
very quiet during the day and for the
herd to be penned an hour earlier than
0Dual.
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:
1--WE are sure of him this time
bungry?"
1t is doubtful if the lion ever roars
because of hunger. His roar may rath
Or be considered challenge to his en-
omies. 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
had not heard his voice for an hour,
when l suddenly heard something
walking with tread as heavy as that
Of an OK. thought 1t was an OK until
saw the lion himself The moon was
M. and he advanced upon the kraal
without even looking our way. His
bearing exhibited grim determination
He walked straight to the spot where
he had leaped before, halted for an In
slant 10 see If the fence had been
strengthened since his other visit and
with an angry growl and a switch OF
his TAIL be went over. The cattle bel
bowed and rushed about, but after q
couple of minutes the head man whis
pered:
HE certainly fell into the pit. See
The cattle have become more quiet
Let us go at once"
At signal we all rushed for the
gate and opened 1t. We were not q
moment too soon, as the fellow was
springing up and catching the banks
with his paws. We hustled the poles
across the excavation, weighted then
down, and then everybody in the vii
lage began to sing and yell and dance
/ had promised the people keg OF
SoEa ten pounds of powder and five
muskets - case of capture. and the re
ward was big thing to them. The
cattle were turned out, fires lighted
and all spent the night in watching
and rejoicing.
The cage was made with double
bars, each as large as mans arm.
and of hard wood We had it ready
By night, but the lion was by no means
ready to enter it. Our only way was
TO draw him up into it by main
strength. For two whole days he de-
ned our every effort, seeming to grow
aercer with every failure on our part,
but on the third day we got the better