La Junta tribune., 1909-08-07

OF the bush and hissed: 'See See!
The lion! Shoot him! Spring!
Once more I must admit that I could
see nothing, Strain my eyes as
would, could distinguish nothing like
q lion In that bush. i decided rather
reckiessly, and perhaps from some
sense Of shame that black man
should be SO superior In eyesight, to
nre. There was no mistaking the re-
sponse-a growl more savage than !
ever had heard IN my life before,
also saw through the thick smoke the
electric CONFUSION with which the
beast pulled itself together for a
position Of the head and shoulder, and
put the second bullet well In behind
the shoulder The beast. still growl-
Ing, but mortally sick. crawled out be-
yond. | now saw 1t was Il lioncss.
Elmi handed me the 45. and third
bullet, raking forward from the stern.
stretched her among the grass.
While rushing forward TO examine
the beast and In the excitement OF the
moment utterly forgetting the second
lion in the other bush. now behind us,
! was promptly reminded by shouts
and two rapidly fired shots In that di-
rectlon. Turning round. l was just In
time 10 see this beast. also II loncss,
bound out toward me. a yellow streak
from the thick covert, growing and
I hnr ush IN
teeth us she commenced another growl
she was only twenty yards away
but that movement was her last. A
Paradox ball ON the shoulder dropped
her from our sight.
while Flint and were thus occu
pied we had heard several rife shots
away on our right. 1t now transpired
that third lioness had also been Sc
cured by the guns who had gone OF
In that direction. All three lionesses
were dragged out Of the covert by our
boys and laid In a row on the grass
outside. where scene OF indescriba-
bic excitement ensued. the niggers
dancing and jumping around the dead
beasts 10 an accompaniment OF slrirks
| beating Of tomtoms and other fear
tins"
In the open the hunter continually
uses his powerful 1eldglasscs in seek
| Ing game. and at times he discovers n
lion that may be approached by
means Of bush stallling-that is, by
w1rlly stealing close enough 10 him TO
secure n shot. But to insure success
the animal must not be disturbed, and
annoying difficulties arise. The shift
| Ing winds and numerous small fowl
and animals that start up noisily from
uudCrfOot serve 10 warn the Intended
prey BY getting so that the wind
blows from the lion toward the hunter
or nearly So. the animal does not detect
The hunters scent. but the variable
African breczcs frequently put the
| hunter 10 windwnrd. and the lion
| quickly discovers his enemy's pres
encc Bush stalking is usually EN-
ploycd In antelope hunting.
Deep ruylnes are n favorite shelter
Of lions during the rainy seasons. out
lying rock korpies around the noun
tains ~ Uganda are during these sea
sons also popular retreats. The Hons
| lie outside their caves by day on
beds. so that when the ovcrpowcring
midday sun makes one bed too hot
they change to the other, So chosen rs
to be more shaded at that period. in
the dry season they hud enough shell
ter In the grass and reed beds or
among the heavy canes. When the
lk,ns are out of their rocky diurnn
lalrs aud In the open vcldt pursuit oi
them Is greatly assisted by having
capable mounts on hand mounts ih,
tsetse ny has overlooked. Lions, fud
Ing that they cannot catch or escape
from horscmcn In III" open. VII
crouch awaiting attack. and thus NJ
ford n tnrget.
Veteran hunters have learned I,
waich other nulmuls during lion hunts
for Indications Of the lniters presence
For Instance. II herd ~ grazing an
tciopes is divided. the divisions fccdln,
on both sides Of an open stretch OF IA
vorablc ground. they often Ind iha
the open space is zone through
which Hons scent Is blowing. dcnoi
Ing the beasts close presence To wind
ward Mounted somnli warriors arr
often used 10 scout the rolling countr,
for lion tracks.
East African lions show n mnrkc,
animoslty. TO mounted men. nrisln.
probably from the advantage given b,
the horses speed, They viii n''acl
mounted men when unmolcsled ant
when the circumstances woud war
rant their avoiding unmountcd mel
until attacked. Recently few mllr
north u Lake isoli. which Mr. Roos"
Welt will pass. lion sprnpg from
clump Of bushes upon n mounted Eng
iish army officer and n companion
threw the officer and his pony TO III
Z a. Il