The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-01-30

sible between Westoby and himself.
At dawn, ~sleepless, Roberts encamped
and taking his shotgun ven down to
the stream in the hope of securing
some guinea fowl for breakfast.
He had heard a lion roaring as he
rode that night, but far away. Toward
dawn the sounds seemed to draw near
er, then they ceased abruptly. Rob
erts surmised that the beast was stalk.
ing an antelope, but he paid no further
thought to the matter. Lions were
cowardly beasts. and unless driven by
hunger rarely attacked a man, and
never in the open.
He shot a guinea fowl and was rest
ing upon the bank waiting for the sun
to rise before returning to camp. Sud
denly, as he sat there, he saw a sight
that completely unnerved him.
Five hundred yards away, fat on his
stomach, visible only by reason of the
dark spot that he made against the
yellow grass, was Westoby. Westoby,
stalking Roberts, covering him with
his rifle and worming his way toward
him.
Roberts was paralyzed with horror.
It was not fear of death; a hit at that
distance was unlikely, and 1t would be
easy enough to dodge into the bush
and make for camp. where he had a
rifle. But Westoby wanted to kill him
and something wanted to kill West
oby.
Two hundred PAGES behind Westoby
an enormous lion crouched on its belly.
1t, too, was worming its way through
the grass, hardly ~perceptible except to
Roberts trained eyes. And in two
minutes 1t would be near enough to
spring.
Roberts sat and watched in fascina-
ton, unable to stir. How soon would
Westoby fire? When he reached the
top of that little knoll. no doubt-but
then the lion would be upon him.
1t seemed as though fate had both
men in the balance and were weigh
ing them; and, with a grim sense of
amusement, Roberts waited to see
what Westoby would do.
Westoby was within 400 yards now,
and the lion within 100 PAGES. Westo-
by was nearing the knoll. After him
the lion crawled, a huge and 1.-the body,
almost hidden by the grass. Roberts
could see the tip of it's tail swaying
slightly as it advanced.
Westoby had reached the knoll and
now lay still. He was covering Rob-
erts. The lion was only 80 PAGES be-
hind him.
When would Westoby fire? Roberts
sat quite still. He felt sure that West
oby would miss him. And Westoby
was delaying-perhaps he wanted to
make dead sure of his aim.
Roberts saw the lion rise and crouch
to spring. A scream of horror broke
from Roberts lips. "Westoby!" he
yelled.
At that instant the lion sprang.
Westoby leaped to his feet and
glanced backward. He was too late
to aim. The lion was upon him.
Westoby dubbed his rifle and brought
it down on the beasts skull. Next i'm
slant lion and man were fighting for
the mastery-for death and life.
Roberts ran toward them. But long
before he reached them the lion was
standing owe its prey. worrying and
shaking Westoby as a cat worries a
mouse. Roberts fired his load of shot
into the lions heart.
Westoby opened his eyes. He was
frightfully mangled. He was dying.
He could barely speak.
~"Forgive!" he whispered.
Again Roberts stretched out his
hand and held the hand of Westoby.
How could he but forgive? The same
temptation had assailed them both.
Westoby seemed to read that, for he
whispered:
Il came to Africa to kill you, Rob-
erts. Mary loved you. / found that
out. She was going to marry me out
of pique, She never loved me. She
always loved you"
You are not maFried?" Roberts
cried.
Westoby shook his head family, and
his eyes closed. Then, opening them
again and summoning all his remain
ing strength, he whispered:
Il thought that if you we're dead she
would learn to love me-. | came to
Africa to kill you. l meant to pre-
tend that we had met and that a lion
had mangled you. Mary knew | was
coming. l had told her that | was go
ing to find you and bring you back to
her. F~orgive!"
And Roberts forgave. Five minutes
later Westoby died.
Inprovfee1 Eu0Iu4ion