Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-15


could make out the form of a
lioness in the gloom, concluded 1t
was not best to fire, as, in the event OF
my only woundng her. she would have
had much in her favor should she have
attacked us in such darkness. was
not sorry when day broke, for the oxen
and horses We're very uneasy; but the
skerm was good, having been strength
ened couple Of days before, not that
lion, having once made up his mind
to attack, would be Kept out by such
means. However, nothing occurred
further than the roaring and, after a
hurried breakfast of coffee and giraffe
steak, ! and Bob, one of the black boys,
took up the spoor of the lion, which
was plain enough about and around
the camp.
All we had left of the giraffe was
represented by a few splinters of bones
which the hyenas had polished after
tie lion had gorged himself. For some
distance along the river bank the
country was pretty well wooded
whilst away to the north stretched the
Kalahari, dotted here and there with
scant timber clumps, but otherwise q
vast sea Of sand. ] did not take my
horse, as he was a bit stiff from the
tumble Of the day before; he had also
somewhat renewed his lameness, which
was scarcely to be wondered at, consid-
ering the country / had ben galoping
him over. The lion had made direct
for thick patch Of thorns and had
evidently laid up there. had no dog.
Ny last had been SO injured by a Koo.
doc bull, which had literally disembow-
cled him, that had been compelled to
shoot him. This was a greater loss to
me than ! can express, for good ter.
rier is simply Invaluable.
On the Track of a Lioness.
The brush was so thick that it was
next to impossible to get through it,
and therefore, as 1t was clear around,
and there was no fear Of making con-
Migration, ! set fire to it as the best
apparent means of ousting our game.
Telling Bob, my Kafir driver, to keep
close behind me, went a little fur
Their round the cover and was just in
time to see lioness break away, but
so far off thatI did not fire, preferring
to let her go, in hopes of getting {;
more favorable chance for a shot. BY
this time the blaze had got SO powerful
that we, too, We're glad to get away
from it; 40 degrees, or Whereabouts,
was sufficient of itself as a tempera-
ture, without additional warmth.
The lioness made straight for an
other bit of brush, whittier we went
after her, and, though the thorns were
quite thick enough, decided to follow
her in. My boy did not relish accom-
pnnying me, nor could l exactly blame
him; for, though fair hunter and n
brave enough lad in ordinary, he did
not like lions, his father having been
killed and his brother badly mauled by
one. 1t was rather difficult keeping
her spoor, but after some trouble and
considerable wear and tear. / espied
her lying on bare spot, watching me
intently. Her head was resting be-
tween her paws and, as quickly as pos
sible, fired between her eyes, and
could have sworn / planted the bullet
there, for she was not above thirty
PAGES from me. Turning to take my
spare carbinc from Bob, 1 found that
lie had vanished. But the lioness never
stirred, and was hurriedly reloading
when she suddenly jumped up and |
dashed further into the thicket.
Supplementary language relieves
the feelings, if nothing more; SO, after
having mathematical poor Bob, once
more plunged after the lioness, Won
dering how our next meeting would
come off. There was plenty Of blood,
lust where her head had lain. and also
enough to guide me easily on the |
tracks she had taken. Indeed, before
was aware of it. / was almost on top
OF her. Stepping steadily back-she
lay directly from mel drew another
bead between her ears at the base of
her skull, and let fly. This time there
could be no doubt as to its being eff
fective, for, as stood, could see
Where the bullet bored right into her
brain. The lioness never SO much as
moved so stepped up and examined
her, NV first bullet had struck her too |
low beneath the eyes to reach her
brain, 1t had torn through the cartil.
age OF the nose and down her throat,
momentarily stunning and SO Supply.
ing her that her last rush was ran !