River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-11-29

tion," said Branson, the director, OIL
the Geological gardens. as he walked
round his new 16 horsepower motor
car at the gate, admiring her build
and indicating her strong points here
and there.
Call her Rattlesnake, or Eagle, or
Bison" 1 suggested Regard her as
another strange creature added to
your collection"
None of those names exactly de-
scribes 16 horsepower" he objected.
Indeed, walked through the gardens
this morning, from the ostriches to the
tortoises, without finding just the
thing wanted"
DIR. Branson's house, where | was
spending a short holiday, was on the
outskirts of the gardens, facing the
encircling road, and from behind the
heavy banks of foliage at the back we
could hear the growing chorus of the
deniZens Of the 700. A lion roared ma
jestically; jackals bayed at the full
moon rising above the tree-tOps; and
the hyaenas laughed again. With the
sound of the primevaI forest in our
ears, the motor throbbing with pent
energy seemed strangely unreal.
mo, I'm hanged If | know what to
coll her" said Branson after brief,
reflective silence. Here, let's take
spin round the circle at high speed
There's no one about. and SO miles
an hour might inspire us with
name"
Sorry Afraid ! can't come | re-
piled Il want to catch the late mail,
and have only quarter of an hour to
do it In"
"AlI right" he said, getting in, "see
you later" And the car started round
the circle in search Of name.
ran up to the house and in few
minutes finished my letter. Then,
wheeling out my bicycle, l mounted
and set off for the post Office. AS
passed along the outer wall of the gar
dens, [ heard commOtion among the
ducks, accompanied by loud shouts.
What was the matter? Possibly, l
thought, some keepers chasing pred
atory dog that had no right in the
ZOO. And, as the shouting soon ceased,
[ assumed that they had successfully
scared the marauder away from the
duck ponds.
AS [ drew near large acacia shad-
owing the path outside the wall,
concluded that my guess was correct,
for / saw huge dog leap over on to
the roadside and stand in the shadow
watching my approach. He appeared
to be one of those massive Great Dane
brutes, but | could not see him very
distinctly
When / drew level with the acacia,
/ ficked my fingers and said gaily:
Hello, boy! After the ducks, eh?"
For a moment | thought he liked my
pleasant greeting. But only for mo-
ment. Then my heart stood still and
my hair rose on my head: for mighty
roar came from the animals throat,
and with a tremendous bound he
launched himself in the air at me.
Inyoluntarily [ made sudden squirt
to escape the spring, and glancing
over my shoulder, saw the huge beast
UHSCGUUluS.
heavy fall of his feet little way be-
hind my back wheel That momentary
glance showed me that it was saw
age lion. and not dog, that was at
my heels.
While he pulled himself together
after his spring, | put on speed and
gained a few yards. But he followed
swiftly. And presently there was an
other roar, and / knew he was in the
air a second time. Thinking that in
second his sharp claws would be i'll
my shoulders, / nearly rolled of the
bicycle with terror. Again, however,
he fell short, and again | sprinted for
dear life.
He followed at gallop and then
sprang once more. The moments
while he was in the air seemed hours,
and when his four paws thudded on
the road again, | felt to my horror
that he had alighted a little nearer to
me than before. bent over the handle
bars and strove to increase my speed,
but my legs were weak and trembling,
and | could not. I heard his angry
growls and quick breath as he gal
loped again, .and l expected presently
to hear his roar before his next spring.
And at that roar | felt | should col
lapse. 1t is an awful sound when it is
hard on your heels.
Again he sprang-this time with a
short snari Cold thrills shot down
my back as / spurted forward. The
snap of his jaws sounded not two
yards off my back wheel, and growl
OF bafFled rage spoke of his disap-
pointment.
But [ was now beginning to collect
ny wits. and my legs were getting
firm again. | resolved that at the
next spring | would swerve from the
center of the road to the right-hand
SIDE and so possibly evade him. 1t
came. | felt him rushing through the
air behind me, and sweryed sharply.
No sooner had l done so than he
alighted almost abreast of me on the
track l had just left. His bark and
snarl were terrible TO hear.
Keeping on the extreme right-hand
side of the road, I increased my pace,
the lion following at gallop less than
half-a-dozen yards behind. Suddenly
! saw the lights of a motor-car round
ing the curve ahead of me. This. /
thought, would brighten him; but no;
he was mad and determined to have
me. The car was approaching very