The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25

he had carefully hidden 1t in q cayelikee
hollow, to which he (the herder) could
easily guide US. He added that the Lon
would without doubt return to his prey for
breakfast, and IL we mounted quickly We
should In all probability be able to reach the
place In good time and kill the marauder.
Such an opportunity could not be neg,
ourselves. The mai r domo, who had come
in from the range during the evening and
slept at the house, readily consented to
accompany US. He and Don Pedro lMr
chester rifles, while the herder and myself
carried carbines; all had, OF course, re.
volvers. The herder led us over hill and
dale, in the fantastic moonlight, that aoi
centuated every feature OF the ground,
for at least three hours, during which time
our plans Of approach and attack were
thoroughly discussed
About A. M. we dismounted, descended
into the dry bed OF a mountain creek, and
here secured our horses by tying the1 70
scrub oaks. Then We assembled the river PED
between boulders and alder trees, until we
came to sort OF Kettle shaped depIeesion
surrounded by a grove Of cottonwood trees.
that stood up high above the surIoundin
dense bushes In the middle OF this kettle,
half hidden by an overhanging boulder,
there lay what appeared to be heap OF
branches, twigs and leaves. surrounded
Although we could plainly see this heap
by the light Of the moon, which penetrated
freely between the LEAKAGE Of the trees
we failed to discover the dead calf or any
other carcass. Our herder, however
pointing. to the heap, said: THAT Is IT.
AS he knew almost to q certainty from
which direction the lion would come, he
posted us In a semi-ciIcle around the three
available sides of the kettle (the fourth
being INSTRUCTED by the boulder) at dis
lance OF about seventy-fye yards from
approach nearer to 1t, on account OF the
acute scent OF the panther, and daylight
was coming on apaoe. There was plenty
of cover for each Of us, 30 az to hide us
completely.
side OF the boulder and went straight at
the heap. Here he looked all around him
and shifted the air. Would he scent US!
My heart beat 80 that seemed to hear II
while l looked at the splendid, graceful
big cat, standing in the full moonlight
exception Of it's curved tail, which was
gently swaying from side to side. Presently
he crouched down before the heap OF twigs
and began to uncover it; then he reached
with his right forepaw deep into the car
cass. At this moment tho herder Dried
fu0 we uhu oil BSo>A
aim and. as previously agreed, fred to-
gether, as one shot viii bring lion down
only when the bullet reaches the spine or
brain.
The almost simultaneous report OF our
guns reverberated through the grove.
We saw the lion make a high jump into the
air and then fall heavily to the ground
where he twisted himself hither and thither
In spasmodic motions for about two min
utes, when he lay still. All cats die pro:
verbally hard, and the herder, who had
hunted these animals previously on dit
ferent occasions, and who knew their
tricks, would not allow US to approach
the carcass until he had put bullet
through its skull from distance OF few
feet.
At this shot the apparently dead animal
made one more heave, ss II trying to rise
but fell back. when one more spasmodic
passing through his body, indicated that
now he was dead, indeed. All four shots
had hit their mark, two making fatal wounds
one breaking the backbone and one pene,
trating the heart. The animal was a full
grown male In the prime Of life, measuring
from muzzle to root Of tail feet and In
height feet at the shoulders.