The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-05-13

knocked him over did not see, M as
that moment ! drew back my head
involuntarily, because, although we
were absolutely safe inside mass Of
mimosa thorns. the whole thing felt
unpleasautly close. When looked
out again | could easily have touched
one of the lions. which was standing
with It's forepaws on the donkey and
its hind quarters within few inches
OF our fence. The other lion was
standing on the far side looking me
straight in the face: but am sure he
could not see me, as the moon was
right In his eyes. making them shine
as II they We're alight | could only
see his head as the other lions body
was in the way SO | determined TO
give the one nearest me a shot. There
was very little of him to be seen ex-
cept his hind quarters. but he was no
close was sure the bullet would drive
right through him.
Quick Shooting in a Crisis.
AS the rifle came up to my shoulder
II touched branch. which seemed
the lion turned half round to see what
1t was. At the same moment fired,
and he fell, rolling over and over
against the fence, and roaring loudly.
Thinking that in his struggles he
might carry away some of our zereba.
] gave him two more shots to finish
| him. AS | shot the second time, the
other lion, which had run back few
| yards, came and stood close TO the
donkey. looking straight towards us.
| pulled at his chest directly was
loaded. he plunged forward. hitting
the corner OF our zereba, then swerveS
Off. and we heard him crash into n
bush, where we found him stone dead
| In the morning. The bullet had gone
/ through his heart. These two lions
were very fine specimens. One had
a thick. almost jet black name, the
other had lighter name but for q
wild lion very thick. There Ia no
doubt these we're the lions seen the
day before, as the next day, riding
over to visit the other camp, l followed
their back trail to within a mile Of
the spot.
Shortly before this | shot three
times at lion which was eating my
donkey. The night was as dark az
pitch. The lion took very little notice
of the two first shots. although one of
them hit the donkey in the ribs. The
third shot was very lucky one The
bullet hit the donkey In the stomach.
and going through, caught the lion at
I n Ar tAn nf hA ~
chest. killing him on the spot. One
would think that 577 rife bazed in
his face at about Ave yards would
frighten any lion. This one had killed
and eaten sheep the night before.
taking 1t from the same village where
sat up for him.
The two foregoing stories would
seem to show that large percentage
Of the lions killed in Somaliland ars
shot at night over bait. This Is not
really So as 1t is quite a chance II q
lion passes the place where you have
donkey tied up. Night shooting, to
my mind. is thing to be avoided. en-
cept now and then as an experience
II generally means very disturbed
night, especially II there are any
hyenas about, and in the morning you
are not At for hard days work. Go
casionally by bright moonlight it ID
very interesting, but IL circumstances
admit of lions being killed by day, ID
is rather like shooting boar in fine
pig-sticiting country to kill lion over
bait at night. Sometimes IL IL the
only chance you have of getting lion,
either because you are moving camp
next day, or because the country ID
unsuitable for tracking. Under the
circumstances you are bound TO try IL
have never myself shot more than
two lions in one night, but a man
whom | met In the country showed
me the skins of four he had shot when
sitting up over the dead body OF an
elephant. 1t was very dark or he
might have got any number, as he told
me he was shooting most of the night
and that in the morning there were
! tracks of many lions all round tho car
. cass.
| have once or twice sat up over &
! dead animal. This way of getting lions
is only likely to be successful when
there are many byenas about, as they
make such a noise that they will at
| tract any lion that may come past
! within reasonable distance.
by permission of LIongmans. Green 4
Co, New York.
Copyright, 1909, by Benz. b. Hampton.l