Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-18

1S, 1906.
too was gfeatly distressed. His tongue
lolled out of his mouth. and he dashed
his TANKS uneasily with his tail.
At last, towards noon, heat and
thirst seemed to overcome the beast.
With throbbing heart the lad saw
him move slowly off. But he was mis-
taken if he supposed that the relent-
lessanlmal would abandon his prey SO
easily. The lion statxed away few
PAGES, and then looking back with q
low growl. stopped. This action he re.
peated every minute or two until he
reached pool Of water some distance
from the tree. Here he quenched his
thirst and then returned to his post.
in despair the Hottentot saw day fade
again into evening, and evening into
night.
1t is useless to describe that second
night; 1t was worse than the first. The
fearful end seemed more certain, and
mind and body were worn out with
terror and WEAKNESS. But the boy was
somewhat cheered by the failure of
the lions repeated attempts to reach
him.
When daylight returned, after re-
freshing himself with little food and
water, he ventured to climb higher
branch, whence he could see in the di-
rection Of his masters farm. His last
hope now was that some of the SER
wants might discover his absence and
come In search of him. Long and
YEARLY did he strain his eyes toward
his home.
The rage of the lion when he saw his
prisoner no more, was fearful to be.
hold. He tore up the ground, bit the
tree and furrowed it with his claws,
But the boy felt more secure in his
new position, and the very peril of his
situation gave him courage Through
all the hot hours Of that long day he
remained on the lookout, often fancy
n ing that he saw his master or some Of
his stalwart sons coming to the res
cue.
But every hope ended in disappoint-
ment. At last, late in the afternoon,
he gave up in utter despair, and pre-
pared, with a sinking heart, to return
to his former place in the tree, the
only one in which he could fasten him
self securely. AS he began his eau
tious descent his eye caught sight Of
four dark objects in the distance COM
ing toward him. Did his longing hope
deceive him again?
This time he was not mistaken; for
presently he could see clearly that
-four men were approaching on horse
back. Taking off his sheepskin cloak,
the boy waved it over his head, shout
ing with all his strength, "a lion a
lion!" long before his voice could
reach his deliverers
The riders, meanwhile, came stead
lily on; and now he could recognize
them, the old farmer himself heading
the party, two of his tall sons, rifle in
hand, and Hottentot servant carry
ing a flint musket The lion was rag
ing furiouslwy, maddened by the
cries and gestures of his prisoner,
who thought only of warning the ad-
vancing hersemen of their danger be-
fore they came upon the animal un-
awares.
Suddenly the servant, who had dis
mounted and was following the trail
on foot, stopped and looked up. He
pointed toward the tree, and then in
an instant, he was on his horse, and
the whole party came on at a brisk
gallop. There was moment of great
suspense to the poor worn-out boy,
who could hardly find voice to send
his warning cry, "a lion! a lion!"
Suddenly the horseman halted-they
had seen the lion
At the same moment, the magnifi-
cant beast became aware of their pre-
.sence, and with leisurely pace adj
vanced a short distance to meet them.
Then he stood still, towing his tail
slowly from side to side, and uttering
a low. deep growl. His rage was ter
rible The riders hastily dismounted
and tied the horses together, with
their heads turned away from the an
cry lion.
And now the men came forward on
foot. all moving slowly and cautiously,
and each with a finger on the trigger
of his gun. The lion moved step to.
ward them. then suddenly crouched
down with his head resting on his fore
paws, and so remained until his enc
mics were within twenty PAGES Of him.
Then he began slowly and noiselessly
to rise to his feet.
AS slowly and as noiselessly did the
old farmer drop on his knee, the 9th.
ers following his example, The four
men raised their guns to their shout
ders, and as the lion was in the act of
springing, the sharp crack of the three
rifles and the report Of the flint mus
ket were heard at the same instant,
There was a terrible roar IF no}p ond
baffled rage, and the noble animal
bounded forward in his agony, and fell
dead at the feet of the farmer and
his sons.
From -Four Hundred Animal
Stories.''
Robert Cochrane.
HOW PLACE THE NEW STARS?
Now that Oklahoma and Indian Ter
ritOdy are to become a new stota a. a.,