Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1881 — Benny’s Adventure. [ARTICLE]

Benny’s Adventure.

1 “Have you heard of the lion which has latelv been prowling about-the country breaking into corrals, and carrying off pigs and poultry?” asked one pioneer of another, as ne took a seat by the cheerful fireside In his neighbor’s cabin, in the Green River Valley ofWyoming, “Yefi. He broke Into our corral last night and carried off* a calf. It was one that Benny claimed, and he can scarcely becon soled for its loss,” replied the host, glancing toward a bright little boy of four years, who stood near. The child’s eyes filled with tears, and he said, “Papa, I’ll go and find it; I won’t let the big lion eat my poor little pet.” The men laughed. “Pet would Ik? glad to sec you coming, but you look like a small specimen to fight a lion,” said the father. The.neighbor remained a couple of hours, recounting marvelous ,j and thrilling adventures amid the rugged scenes in which the greater part of his life and been passed; and absorbed in hi» conversation, no one noticed the child when he took his little cap and mittens, and quietly left the house. The winter had been severe. The snow lay deep upon the plains, and the howling of the wolves were nightly heard as they searched for prey under cover of darkness, and retreated to their dens with the approach of daylight. The lion had apparently descended from ids home in the mountains to feast upon the tempting Herds which constituted the principal wealth of the settlers, and repeated depredations were rendering lii&i a terror to the neighborhood. “Where is Benny ? asked the mother, as she looked up from her sewing and missed the pleasant face from the group around the fireside. “He must Be out at the stable with John,” said the father; but inquiry revealed the fact that he had not been there. One place after another was searched without finding any trace of the little one. The • last recollections that any one had of him was when he had announced his intention of finding his pet. “Oh, the lion has carried off my child!” exclaimed the mother in terror and alarm, as she reflected that at least two hours had elapsed since he had been noticed by any of the family. “He may have followed after Mr. Brown,” said the father, seizing his rifle; “I will look in that direction, and John and Thomas can go in another.”

The two brothers, aged respectively eighteen and twenty, nastily grasped their rifles, and hastened away, lea\> ingthe mother in an agony of fear and suspense terrible to endure. "Which way shall wego, John?”asked the younger brother, as they stepped out side the door. “Let us walk out beyond all the places where the snow has been: trampled; and then strike a circle around tHe premises until we find his track,” replied the other. This plan was quickly acted upon, and in a short time they were rewarded by finding a little footprint, which scarely indented the snow which had settled compactly to the earth, yet' distinct enough to be easily followed. “All right,” said Thomas, cheerfnliy; “We will soon find him now.”

“He has gone straight to the river. If he does not fall through an opening in the ice, we will overtake him • shortly,” replied the elder brother. They had traveled a mile or more, when they discovered a track recently made in the snow by some large and powerful animal. The long and sharp claws were plainly imprinted, and ft needed no second glance to tell the brothers that it was the track of the ravenous mountain lion. It came up at nearly right angles, then turned and followed straight on after the little footprints of the cherished brother. For an instant they looked Bilently into each other’s faces, and read the terrible fear that sent the life current back upon their hearts, and blanched their cheeks to ashy paleness, and then sped rapidly over the snow-cov-ered ground toward the river. Not a word passed between the brothers until they stood upon the bank, with nothing intervening save the growth of the willows which fringed the stream, when Thomas exclaimed, “Oh, John, I never can bear It! I dare not look down upon the ice. If I should see —Hark! what was that?” For a moment the brothers listened intently. It was a child’s voice in an agony of grief aud terror, pleading Slaintively with some threatened anger, “Oh, please go ’way, you big, naughty dog; Benny’s so’fraid! Ido wish my brother Johnny’d come and take me!” , The touching voice broke down in 'childish sobs, and in another moment the brothers had pressed through the willows, and stood upon the brink, gazing down upon the scene before them. Scarcely a hundred feet distant the child was standing on the ice, and walking round and round him, as if uncertain of the nature of his prey, was that savage mountain lion. The child had heard him coming down the bank, and turned and faced him. That act alone had delayed the fatal spring; but now, as if tired of his trifling, and unwilling longer to delay the promised feast, he crouched low upon the ice, in a catlike attitude, with his fierce eyes fixed upon the trembling innocent before him. “Quick, Tom! God help us!” said the elder brother, in a husky whisper, as he raised his rifle to his A rapid glance along the glistening barrels, a rimultaneous report of two rifles, and the savage beast sprang upward into the air, then fell hack upon the ioe, and rolled over and over in the agonies of death. With the discharge or their rifles,.the brothers bounded to the spot, and the little one reached his hands toward the elder brother, saying, “Take me, Johnny; I’se so coid?^ “I did come, you poor little lambi” i said the great strong fellow, lifting the i tiny form in his arms, while the tears ' streamed down his cheeks. He un- J buttoned the warm wolf-skin over- : coat, and holding the shivering child j i against his manly breast, rebuttoned 1

it over him, then turned to his other brother, who had dropped upon his knees on the lee, “Come, Tom, let ns hasten and relieve the anxiety at home.” But the intense strain upon the boy’s nerves had been too much tor his endurance, and it was several moments before he was able to rise. “Don’t tell mother bow near the Hon came getting Benny; it will be like a nightmare to her for weeks to come.” said the thoughtful boy, as they climbed up the bank, after Thomas’ strength had been somewhat recovered.

After Benny had been placed in his mother’s arms, amid the general reoicingof the family, and the boys lad partially rested from their rapid walk, they privately informed their father that tney had seen the mountain lion, and requested him to go with them to find It. He readily complied, and they were soon on the way to the river.. this is the direction in which you found Ifcnny!” said the father in a startled tone, as they neared the stream.

“Yes, father; and if the mere thoughtr of it frightens you, imagine our feelings when we had to shoot the lion to save him,” replied John. “Thomas came as near fainting as great strong boys ever do; and how we ever steadied our nerves enough to take a sure aim at him is more than I can tell.” “God surely helped you,” said the father, as he paused upon the bank, and turned white at the thought of his child’s peril, as he beheld the carcass of the beast lying upon the ice where they had left him. It was an animal of unusual size, and made a soft and beautiful robe, which was presented to Benny in remembrance of his providential deliverance. —Home Magazine.