The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-09-27
which lasted for

CAIALAAS 6Nk QGSASS WAANA A0obC0 Ava
several minutes.
Again and again the OK charged furi-
ously, but the lion always sprang MINI
bly, out of the way, and in turn tried
to jump upon the back Of his antag-
onist. Notwithstanding his huge size,
Coaly was very swift in his movements.
Whenever the lion presented himself,
he found the sharp horns ready to re-
ceive him.
Finally l saw, the lion make a des-
perate leap at Coaly's throat. The OK
turned very quickly, so that his body
shut out my view. For a little while
l was very much afraid lest my cham
pion, although he had been having
the fight all his own way so far,
should be defeated and perhaps killed.
But soon he turned, and | saw, much
to my relief that there was no occa-
sion whatever for alarm on his ac-
count.
The lion was on his back on the
ground, while Coaly was almost stand
ing on his head over the prostrate body
doing his best to drive his horns
through it.
Whether he succeeded l could not
tell in the dim light; but in a few sec
onds the lion was again thrown into
the air. When he struck the ground
all the fight was gone out of him. He
scrambled away, followed by the furi
Gus Coaly. Both disappeared among
the cedars.
listened intently to learn what they
were doing. Now and then a growl,
more of pain than of defiance, come
back from the direction they bad
taken. Each growl was fainter, COM
ing farther up the creek, and from this
l knew that the lion was not racing at
a good speed.
While l was listening eagerly for
some evidence that the fight had been
renewed, l became aware that every
thing round me was growing lighter.
CHANGING down, l saw with dismay that
my bed was on fire. One of the Goals
that had been scattered by the combat
anus udu ldllSn upOn lAlG oil clWy WuICl1
had at last burst into a blaze.
If the lion had still been near l
should have remained up in the tree
and allowed the fire to burn, although
my hat, boots, coat and vest, the only
part of my clothing that had removed
on going to bed, would have been con-
sumed. But feeling that there was
now no danger, hastily let myself
down and extinguished the blaze. The
only harm done was the burning off
of the corners Of two or three quilts,
l soon kindled another fire of wood
and felt safer when | saw it blazing up
brightly, although l was still very
much afraid A little reflection con-
yinced me that it would prove a bet
ter safeguard than any tree could
climb.
The experience through which had
just passed had left me in an excited,
nervous state At every sound, how
ever Slight, started, and turned
quickly, not knowing at what mo-
ment the lion might come back. was
also anxious lest Coaly should take it
into his head to go home, and leave
me with only half team.
AS nearly as l could tell by the moon
it was now about midnight. turned
up the ends of the quilts and blankets.
and crawled under them. Then l
lay and listened for any suspicious
sound. Every now and then raised
my head and looked about, but saw
nothing to revive my fears. Before l
knew that I was getting sleepy, | was
sound asleep.
l was awakened by something push
ing against the side of my bed Start
ing up in alarm, l was greatly relieved
to see that it was only Coaly. He was
putting his nose under the blankets
to get the oats. The broken rope
was dangling from his horns. The
fire had burned out, but it was now
day, bright, still frosty morning ana
the first rays of the sun were already
shining against the mountainside above
me.
After rekindling the fire, l started
to lead Coaly back to tie him again.
again, when l made the discovery that
one of his horns was covered with dried
blood. Evidently he had seriously
wounded the lion
Possibly, l thought, he had killed
him somewhere near by and ! wanted
to make a search in hope CT finding
the carcass and securing the skin as a
trophy. But being unarmed, and
knowing that there was danger OF
coming upon live lion instead OF a
dead one, l decided that the risk was
too great.