The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-19

that distance. 1t seemed to be that the
beast must be watching some one near
er by. l had not given the lay of the
ground much attention. but was under
the impression that shallow ravine
led from the cave in a northerly direc-
ton, parallel with the stream. This
would furnish cover for any one creep
ing up to view the site of our new
camp and lie in ambush for us. finally
settled it in my mind that some Indian
hunter or some young brave anxious to
make a record had in some way struck
our trail and was planning to- get our
scalps. He was creeping up the ravine
and the lion was watching him. Wheth-
er he knew of my presence was only to
be guessed at, but reasoned not.
1 could trace the progress of the
man by the actions of the animal
above. Sometimes the shadow in
ciuded the neck and shoulders of the
lion, and sometimes it retreated alto
gether. Sometimes there was deepest
silence for moment, and then 1t was
broken by whine or the clicking of
claws. What I began to fear as the
minutes glided away was that Joe
would return and be shot by the Turk
ing savage before the lion could in
terfere. That he meant to spring when
his prey came near enough I had no
doubt. 1t was just the sort of situa-
ton to appeal to lion-the cat and
the mouse. But for slight accident
my partner would have come back too
soon, and would probably have had a
bullet fired into him. He met with n
fall that twisted his ankle, and this
detained him. more than two hours.
and when he did come he was limping
badly.
BY watching the shadow and listen
| ing to the movements of the beast I
was enabled to gauge the movements
| of the enemy in the ravine. How
near at hand he was when the lion
first caught sight of him 1 could only
guess afterward as I looked over the
ground, but I made it about two hun
dred feet. He had the cover of
powders and bushes for all that dis
lance, but he moved with the greatest
caution. The nearer he approached
camp the greater his caution.
At fifty feet away he halted for full
ten minutes. During this interval he
must have been surveying our camp
outfit and wondering why no one was
in sight. With the suspicion of his
race he probably scented some am
! bush on our part. knew when he
came moving along again-when he
was within thirty Decentralization. !
| had now lost all fear that was to be-
ested in watching for the climax. The
lion was fifteen feet above the man,
and would have to spring outward
about ten feet. This would be an easy
effort for him.
AS the Indian came nearer the lion
ceased to whine or click his claws. but
could almost feel the CULVER of his
muscles as he made ready. l was
watching and listening with all my
might, and I surely thought I should
| be able to detect his last movement
/ before taking the leap, but all l saw
was black ball pass before my vision,
and then the stiffness was rent by a
wild scream of surprise and terror.
There was a snarl and a growl, sounds
of a struggle, and then all was silent
l gave the beast ten minutes to get
away and then descended from the
cave. Right in my path to the creek
was an Indian in warpaint lying dead.
Teeth and claws had mangled him like
a six foot buzzsaw. The cat had
played the mouse to his death and
gone back to her lair to finish her
morning nap.-(Copyright, 1905, by
| r. B. BIcClure.)