Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1883 — A Lion Story. [ARTICLE]

A Lion Story.

. “Y<su see‘that corn moving;” i “Of course I do.” ! “Well, that is the tail of the lion | beating the corn. ” , 1 i We. wisely halted to learn the enemy’s intentions, when, with incomprehensible stupidity, one of the Arabs shouldered his rifle and shot it off in thp direction of the lion. Even if that rifle hud been a Pevismes or a Lepage, un- : less the Arab had hit the lion between the eyes, the only result was the wounding and exciting of the lion. The consequences had not long to be waited for. The lion instantly began bounding forward in fearful strides, and our courage being equal toTlie' occasion, we climbed up the nearest tree as quickly as we could, considering discretion.’.the-, better part of valor. . But the lion had seen us, and he approached like a steam enginie. As late would have it, he looked round ami chose the tree' on which I sat with two Zouaves, roaring tremendously; and wildly beating the air with his tail. He then wenUi few steps back, never for tlie moment losing sight of us, and with a .sudden bound jumped at the tree add tore a big bit of bark and “woodont and shook us in the branches Tikes grapes. A second time he tried Hie same experiment with-a-rage-grandr to beho'd; but, after a third time, failing to break the trunk, which, fortunately, was a very solid one, or to make us fall down, he began, first, in a large circe, then gradually in narrower ones, to pace round the tree, his tail always in the air ready to strike. Hp never for a moment turned his eye away from the inhabitants of tlie leafy roof. I confess here. that I did not feel comfortable, and if any one tells you lie met a lion and he was"perfectly calm and composed, take his narration ciiiii gi ano salis..----- -.

We felt a curious sensation with this monster so near and seemingly so determined to wait any length of time, for he looked up with the clearest possible expression, as much as to sAy: “You just come down, you cowards, and let us have a fair fight; we will soon see who will get the best of it.” Ami he continued slowly walking around the tree, watching us as if to espy every movement of ours. A t last he marched so slowly and so near, always holding up hipproud, majestic head, that I said to my comrades: “We have six good shots. The next time he comes within my range I shall surely take aim atid iniss him, do not be rash, wait your chance—one ofTisTnnstkiHjrim;”When he neared me I took aim slowly and cautiously, knowing the danger if I failed. One second more—-I pressed the, trigger,._the ball went straight in at the corner of his eye, and he fell. Now the question was, Was he dead, or did he, as they often do, pretend and lie motionless? t The jilood, however, flowed freely, and he seemed not to have any life, when one of the Zouaves said: “ Si, monsieur, me donne cent francs (£4), je descends et je lui donne son reste. ” I said: “I will give you the amount with pleasure, *but I do not wish you to risk your life for a paltry sum, because if he is not quite dead you are dead the monlent you come near him. ” Well, the man thought he would risk it, being of opinion the beiist was dead. He descended, his rifle under his arm, his finger on the trigger, but as he, with the : utmost caution, neared the lion r a violent, spasmodic stroke with the tail macle us fear that it was all over with the mam At this critical moment he let the whole charge in at the lion’s ear, and, fortunately, killed it. Then, of course, we all came down, and now the Arabs began insulting him: “You robber, you thief, you stole my sheep, you murdered my lamb,” -etc. I don’t know whether the lion despised calumny, but he replied nothing, which seems the most practicable means of silencing gossiping tongues, and, after cutting his head off, which was bornein triumph into the village, this exciting event was over. 'fenlple Bar.