Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23
Edited by
7. HERBERT WEIGH


congress. When it grew darker the delegates fell
to wrang1ing, if they had gone into executive
session. and debating ways and means of taking
possession of us for the public good. Some of the
lions, apparently spurred on by Others behind, crept
up close that dozen steps would have enabled
me to pat their shaggy heads. l did not embrace
this opportunity, but drew my rifle, and was the
point of firing when Fifteen cried out: Wait!
One shot may not kill. He jump for us; the others
follow"
With this warning the boy caught big branch
of dried bush from pile which he had collected for
just such crisis, and threw it upon the fire. The
bodies 1t blinded the beasts Thev drew back and
stayed back, because all night kept protecting
fire blazing furiously.
And yet, | had ceased to be much afraid of lions.
My experience had taught that there is greater
fear on their side, and that if man INDUCES in
foolish moves, the jungle kings will not take the
initiative in conflict with him, except, indeed the
old fellows, which, account of their nfirnites,
have been outlawed by their kind and left to hunt
alone. They fall short, lose their hold in their
attempts to spring upon their natural prey, and.
maddened by hunger forget the instincts that
would have warned them in their prime against the
most dangerous of all animals. And SO they
driven by desperation to reckless attacks while the
younger ones, less hungry and more cautious, will
circle the fire with their glowing eyes not much
: upon yourself as upon your donkeys.
= 1t wonder that always tremb1ed
when the roars and mournful shrieks began to
break the quietude of the jungle after night had
fallen! Even more than by the roars, they as
well small dog Columbus, seemed to be
by the shrieks and this it proved
one night, was true instinct was sitting by the
fire. drowsiy waiting until it would be time call
Fifteen to take his watch. Beside me- with his
eyes half shut, Columbus. Tho long -drawn-out
cries of hyenas had been echong through the hills.
The dog had crept close to me, and l had patted
him reassuringly. He was affectionate little
animal, and had become fond of him, if he
had seemed to be wholly without valor Perhaps
he waiting for a good chance to show his
mettle. 1t
The End of Columbus
+;,,,e4 hoJ 1oap
donkeys were standing quietly by the brush wall,
and l induging in dream of distant cities
dream that was rudely shattered by a. wild bray
behind me. 1t was almost human cry of terror and
call for help. | swung about. There had been some
thing faulty in the construction of wall that
night for a hyena had jumped through and was
upon donkey sprang for my rife and Columbus,
a small fury, absolutely reckless now, darted out
the of his good friend. The hyena bounded
from the donkey seized the dog and leaped through
the opening in the wall before had time to fire
shot The faithful little beast that had carried
pack so far for me rolled over in the death agony,
with gaping wound in its side Out in the darkness
there last pitiful yelp from Columbus, and
then all again was quiet.
For days Fifteen mourned his pet. He had always
been eager for jungle sights but found pleasure
in giraffe the first one we had seen, that
came innocently browsing almost into camp one
afternoon when we were induging in brief siesta.
The long necked animal had its nose high among
tender leaves, and within few rods before it
Then it gave startled leap and bounded
away, swinging its head from side to side and up
and down to dodge the limbs of trees, spreading it's
hind legs far apart and throwing them SO far in
front as to give it the odd appearance of sitting
down with every jump. 1t was surprising that this
creature had not scented because is the unusual
keenness of giratfes in this respect together with
their running abilities and watch-tower equipment
for observation, that enables them to survive
among their preylng enemies of the bush They
have no other defense.
Fifteen hardly smiled at the tmorous giraffe but
broke into his old animation afternoon when
a small bird, of grayish brown color, with long,
slim tall came hopping and chirping around the
camp. 1t seemed to be anxious to attract atten
ton.