The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-03-03
said, but both animals attempted to
\ / a

said, but both animals attempted TO
pass throughthe narrow opening at the
same time. $
Get back there, JUPITER he cried.
and cut the lion over the r!uzZle with
his short slim riding whip.
Jupiter crouchcd back in the cage.
and jim stalked past the keeper, out
into the enclosure. Once in the open
air the big beast stretched, open wide
his immense paws, yawned, and then
roayed.
And now, Jim, my boy said Riley,
rs he approached, veil AVE your
lovely collar put round your lovely
neck, and be chained nice and tight to
the tiure, while your old frind soaks
you with big sponge"
Jim stood very still while the heavy.
collar was being buckled round his
neck. Riley always managed this with
one hand, his other being occupied in
dangling the whip before the lions
eyes.
Come on. now he said, when he
had finished, and he half dragged the
big beast over to the pals.
There was a ring fastened to the floor
with a chain attached to it, the end
of which was fastened into a clasp.
The lion stood between the two pals.
Facing him, the keeper threw aside
the whip and stopped to pick up the
chain. As he rose slightly to snap the
catch upon the collar, loud roar broke
from jim. He had become suddenly
infuriated. Before Riley knew what
had happ.ned an open paw had struck
him. and the claws tore open his right
cheek. He staggered back into the cor
ned and half crouched there. dazed.
The keeper did not scream. He
hardly breathed. The breeze, brushing
his raw, lacerated cheek. stung him; he
felt the blood running down his neck,
along his body. Under all his Clothes
but his trained will kept him quiet and
unmoving.
The hon was lying now almost fiat,
gazing at the man. 1t would all be
over in moment. Riley thought, for
he saw that the beast was about to
spring.
With a great Sound it jumped
through the air. Then the enormous
bulk Of the animal fell on him, bearing
him to the floor beneath it's weight.
With one sweep CT mighty paw
Riley was torn from his chin to his
hip, and his clothing ripped into shreds,
as if it were so much cambria. Yet he
kept his senses and lay still. :,
The pain was distributed; it seemed
to be everywhere. even in his feet. He
wondered if his feet had been gnawed
of.
He could not have moved had he de-
sired to do so, and he knew that the
slightest motion would mean a fresh
attack from the animal, st"- ling there
in the middle of the enclosure, shak-
ing it's head, and watching him with
yellow, burning eyes.
Riley wondered if be was dead. he
could think still, and to satisfy himself
that his end had not come, he ran over
in his mind all his experiences with
lions in the past.
It had been carclessness to lay aside
the whip. even fer a moment; tor'
slight as it was, there was not lion
in the Zoo that it did not cow. Then
he wondered if he could moi reach IT.
With a great effort he drew his knees
up slightly and pressed his heels hard
upon the floor, thinking thus to Slid
his own body, little by little, to the
spct where lay the whip. Jim saw
the movement of the knees, and
crouched. He would spring again.
Riley closed his eyes. He did not need
to ooen them to feel the two rows OF
sharp teeth meet in the muscle OF his
arm at the shoulder, or to feel hlmselr
dragged across the cement.
When he did open his eyes he looked
down the length of his own body to-
ward the opening of the inner cage.
There, in the doorway. stood Jupiter.
his head raised, his eyes angry. Riley
remembered that he had struck Jupi-
ter unnecessarily but a few minutes
earlier. Was the lion coming to share
in the killing?
Riley watched Jupiter. but Jim did
net see his cage mate, for his tail was
to the opening as he crouched for an
other spring. But before he could leap
there came roar that shook the pal
inss. And then Jupiter bounded to
the middle of the enclosure, facing
Jim.
The names Of the two lions bristled
1lpon their necks like ruffs. Jupiter
plunged forward and instantly the hor-
rible fight began, which is still spoken
Of in tones of awe among the keepers
of the Zoo.
Riley, lying there. too weak to move
q finger. saw it all. The lions roared
and snarled, and tore at each other,
now rising above the PROSTATE man.
clawing. swapping. biting; now rolling
over and over upon the floor, all wet
with the blood Of nan and beast. Jim's
resistance was gallant, for he was the
inferior in both strength and weight.