Evening star., 1924-01-20

but when we pointed to the footprint
in the dust, which was apparently
none too fresh, they took up the work
Of tracking. IT is astonishing to see
how a dog can tell which way a track
leads. If in doubt, he runs quickly
back and forth on the scent and
thus gauges the way the animal has
progressed. A mediocre dog cannot
do this. but We had dogs with college
educations.
Travelling carefully and at a mod
crate pace, we came to an open knoll
in the forest. Here in the ferns our
pack circled about us as If the cat
had been doing circus stunt. and
they seemed confused. Later on We
found that our feline friend had been
experimenting with u porcupine and
learned another lesson in natural his
tory.
Suddenly the leader shifted at
fallen tree where, doubtless, the cat
had perched. then with a ringing bay
the hound clamped his tail close to
his rump and left in a streak of yell
low light. The rest of the pack
leaped into full cry.
We were of on a hot track. Oh,
for the wings Of a bird Trained as
Young and were to desperate run
ming. the game taxed US to the ut
most. First we climbed the knoll,
deep in ferns and mountain misery,
when we dashed over the crest. tore
through manZanita brush, thickets of
young cedar and buckthorn. lover
ledges OF lava rock, down steep decllv-
tiles, among giant oaks, cedars and
pines. AS we ran We grasped our
ready strung bows in one hand and
| the Tapping auivers in the other.
You would not think that at this
time we could take note of the fra
grant shrubs and pine needles beneath
our feet. but ] smelled them as We
passed I'm flight, and they revived me
to renewed energy. On we rushed,
only to lose the sound of the dogs.
Then we listened and caught it down
the hill below US. Again we hurdled
| barriers of brush, took long sliding
leaps down the treacherous shale and
ran breathless to the shade of great
oak.
| There above our heads was the
lion. Oh, the beauty of that beast.
LEAVING and giddy with exertion,
IL we saw wonderful sight, a
great tawny, buff colored body
crouched on a limb, grace and power
| in every outline. A huge, soft
cylindrical tail swung slowly back
| and forth. Luminous eyes gazed at
| us in utmost calm. a cold calculating
calf. He watched and waited our
next move, waited with his great
! muscles tense for action.
We retreated not only to get out
| OF his reach but to gain a better
| shooting position. AS we did this. he
gave a 1.-THE leap to a higher limb and
shielded himself as best he could be-
hind the boughs Of the tree.
From our position, his chest and
throat were visible through a tri-
angular space in the branches. not
more than a foot across. We must
shoot through this. His attitude was
so huddled that his head hung over
his shoulder.
Young and / caught our breath,
drew our arrows from their ouivers,
nocked them, and set ourselves in the
archer's stable stand" We drew to-
gether, and, at a mutual thought. shot
together. Because of our unsteady
condition the arrows flew a trihle
wild. Mine buried itself in the lions
shoulder. Young's hit him in the
nose.
He reared and struck at this latter
shaft, then, not dislodging it, began
swaying back and forth while with
both front paws he fought the arrow.
While he thrashed about thus in
the tree top. we nocked two moro ar
rows and shot. We both missed.
and IL you ever go up into Tuolumne
county, you will find mine buried
deep in the heart OF an oak.
Just as we nocked third arrow,
he freed himself from the offending
shaft in his nuzxle, raised his fore
paws upon a limb and prepared to
leap. In that movement he barred the
white hair OF his throat and chest,
and like q flash, two keen arrows
wore driven through his heart area.
AS they struck and disappeared
from sight. he leaped. Like q flying
squirrel he scared over our heads.
Full seventy-dve feet he cleared in
one mighty outward, downward
bound. 1 saw his body CLINT across
the rising sun. swoop in O wonderful
curve and land In a sheltering bush
The dogs threw themselves upon
him. There was a medley of sounds,
a fierce but brief fight, and all was
over. We dragged him forth-dead.
The ringleader OF our pack, trem-
bling with excitement, effort and