Year: 1860

AAAN
name rose bristling up, and uttering
one fierce, prolonged growl, he made a
sudden leap forward. His wary oppo-
ncnt, who had narrowly observed his
movements, no sooner saw the wild
leap Of the lion, than he sprang ten feet
in the air and came screaming down
upon the back of the king of beasts,
where, the instant he struck, he dealt
him crushing blow over the head
with his club. The lion roared, and at
tempted to shake him of, but, finding
that impossible, he rolled over on the
ground; and thus effected the dislodg-
ment of his enemy. But before the
lion could gather up. another stunning
blow from the club of the wild man
monster fell upon his shaggy head
causing him to roar with pain. and be-.
fore he had sprung beyond his reach,
where he stood, seemingly ready and
even anxious for the second round.


The movements of the lion were now
more cautious and guarded than at first.


Still it was evident that he had no
intention Of giving up the contest with
out another trial, for he came wriggling
slowly forward with his jaws distended,
and ready second time to leap upon
the agile monster that opposed him.
Both seemed to be playing shy, and
watching, each, to obtain some advan-
tage of the other. In whatever direc-
ton the lion advanced, the man monster
retreated in circle, always keeping
about the same distance between them,
so that several minutes elapsed before
the lion made his second leap, which re-
suited precisely as did the first, the
lion getting by far the worst of it. The
lion now became more enraged and less
cautious, and advancing quickly, made
third spring at his opponent, recei-
wing as before three or four tremendous
blows across the head from the mon
ster's club. which drew blood. and seem
ed for an instant to stagger him. The
moment he recovered, he made his
fourth leap, and for the fourth time re-
ceived series of crushing blows over
the head, which brought the king of
beasts upon his knees like an OK in the
shambles.


Perceiving his advantage, the cum
ming monster allowed the lion no time
to recover, but repeated his blows till
the king Of beasts was glad to draw
himself off into the jungle, apparently
more dead than alive. ,


The monster appeared to enjoy, his
triumph, every bit as much as the
champion ofa prize fight, for he danced
around the open space, brandishing his
club, like wild Irishman, or any 9TH
er human creature, shouting his "khi-
yahs" q dozen times in succession, af-
ter which he threw aside his club, and
took another draught from tie spring.


Now was the time for Wilson and
myself to tremble lest the, monster
should discover us, for we knew not
our position in the tree would be no
security against him, though it might
have securely protected us against the
lion. Our fears in this respect we're
bat too soon realized, for the moment
he raised his head from the surface of
the water, we saw that we we were
discovered. He sprang to his feet,
and uttering loud fendish cry, ad-
vanced instantly toward the tree on
which we we're seated.


There was but little time for reflec-
ton; we must either shoot this wild,
halfhuman monster, or perish ourselves
Wilson was the first to recover his pres
cnce of mind, and raising his gun to
his shoulder: instantly fred. It was
impossible to tell for moment whether
his shot took effect or not, for the next
instant the gigantic monster made a fly
ing leap through the air, which brought
him almost into the branches of the
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