The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-05-31

long grass on the opposite bank moved apart and
a graceful young lioness stepped out into the
open! was considerably taken aback, for had
no means of offense or defense; moreover, she
was less than stones throw away from me.
l looked at her and she looked at me. Then
quietly she had come, she departed. My
dog had toward me meanwhile and caught
glimpse of the lioness disappearing in the long
grass. He dashed after her. and had much ado
to recall him. The lioness crashed off at a gal
lop into the plains and that was the last l
of her. 1t was certainly a little upsetting and
quite spoiled my afternoons stroll. Needless to
say returned to my camp and next time / took
a stroll carried my gun with me. 1t is strange
that the lioness should have been in these parts.
for never before had one been in that neigh
borhood.
However, few days later left Muhoroni to
run into Kisumu-forty miles away. travelled
by hand-propelled trolley on the railway. The
triweekly passenger train from the coast to the
lake had preceded me by a bare fifteen minutes
Less than three miles out of Muhoroni station
as we were descending a dip in the railway I
noticed something the track. We were ap-
preaching 1t at high rate of speed and I could
not at first make out what 1t Suddenly
when only about sixty yards away two young
lionesses got up slowly from the track, where
they were lazily stretching themselves and
climbed the bank beside the track!
l had only a shotgun and did not dare fire at
them, for had only small bird-shot with me and
trolley boys to make the machine travel at its
highest speed and they stuck to their work like
heroes We dashed past the two onesses and
began our ascent OF the rise. Luckily the two
cats did not attempt to follow or attack u.s.
AS far as know, these are the only two occa-
sons on which lions have been seen in this sec
ton of the country.
But all my many encounters have not been so
easy these On some occasions thew b.vo
SHOWN hight in a most determined manner One
IN particular gave me some very anxious mo-
ments was out hunting meat and picked I'M
the fresh trail of lion. / decided to follow ard
In due course came up with him He was n
hne' unnamed specimen and fullgrown one,
cast enVious eyes upon his hide and decided
come what might, to add him to my trophies
Ihen began hard stalk The lion would dash
on at great speed and then disapnear IN tn
long grass would follow as fast as couId and
On reaching The spot where had last seen him
would advance with great caution Then he
would spring out and dash off again. This was
repeated several times and it tired me- and On r
lost patience l esayed a long shot and bit bi
He disappeared in the long grass with a roar NJ
pain and anger. "
advanced carefully. keeping a watchful ava
for possible developments. | could see and bo.r
waere ne was, but could not get him to come out
into the open l knew that it was surname fon,r
to follow him into the long grass-in fact y 90.
counting certain death. decided to burn biy.
out My porters and myself set fire to the ,on,.
grass and then | stood ready to kin as tho hi9
beast dashed for safety US
suddenly with mighty roar he came bound
ing IN huge leaps toward me. | fired straight :.
MS chest and raked him through the er,,~a
length OF his body. fired second shot and car,
ne came on, although he was mortallv wonrsos
MY gun bearer handed me my s.,ond gun and :
n,eu agaln Quickly, this time killing him. His
nuge oody Tell with crash almoSt at INV ro.
and was able to breathe again frs,Iy ;, 80
neen very exciting few minutes and A. ,pe IT,
1t looked as If the lion might win Tbo rnIO
was ruined as far as being good specimen was
concerned for my shots had seriously 5,r,,.as
It. However, be made bully tropbv ava So
quite pleased with the results of my shoot r.
had followed him into the long grass sb,,,,s
most certainly have been badly mauled 60 ,hot
must nave died either from shock or from gan.
creme poisoning Nearly every man who 81.
died at the hands of lion has done 60 -. ' a.
foolishly. - '''o '"N"r