FIGHT WITH A LION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 275, 9 August 1878, Page 7

FIGHT WITH A LION.

The crowd was silent. At the end of some seconds, the barred gate of the pit was opened, and gave entrance, not to the brave and powerful Hercules, but to a poor dog that was thrown towards the ferocious beast with the intention of still more exciting his ravenous appetite. This unexpected act of cruelty drew hisses from the spectators, but they were soon absorbed in watching the behaviour of the dog. With apparent unconcern, the lion creepingly advanced towards the dog, and then, with a sudden movement, he was upon his feet, and in a second launched himself into the air ! But the dog at that instant bounded in an opposite direction, so that the lion fell in the corner, while the dog alighted where the lion had been. Then the lion, scanning his victim from the corners of his eyes, walked sideways a few steps, and, turning suddenly, tried again to pounce with one bound upon the dog ; but the latter anticipated this movement also, and in the same second jumped in the opposite direction as before, crossing the lion in the air. At this the lion became furious, and lost the calmness which might have insured him victory, while the courage of the unfortunate dog won for him the sympathy of the spectators*. As the lion, excited and terrible, was preparing anew plan of attack, a rope ending in a loop was lowered to the dog. The brave little animal, whose imploring looks had been painful to look upon, saw the help sent to him, and, fastening his teeth and nails into the rope, was immediately drawn up. The lion, perceiving him, made a prodigious leap, but the dog was happily beyond his reach. The poor creature, drawn in safety to the terrace, at once took to flight, and was soon lost to view. At the moment when the lion threw himself on the floor of the pit with rage at the escape o£ his prey, the Sicilian entere 1 calm and firm, superb in his brilliant costume, and- with his club in his hand. At his appearance in the pit, a. silence like death came over the crowd of spectators. The Hercules walked rapidly towards a corner, and, leaning upon his club, awaited the onslaught of the lion, who, blinded by fury, had not yet perceived his entrance. The waiting was of short duration, for the lion, iv turning, espied him, and the fire that flashed from the eyes of the terrible beast told of savage joy iv finding another victim. Here, however, the anunal showed for a momenta feeling of anxiety ; slowly, as if conscious of the presence of a powerful adversary, he retreated some steps, keeping his fiery eyes all the time on the man. The Sicilian also kept his keen gaze on the lion, and, with his body slightly inclined forward, marked every alteration of position. Between the two adversaries it was easy to see that the fear was on the side ot the beast ; but, comparing the feeble means of the man — a rude clvb — with the powerful structure of the lion, whose boundings made the very ground beneath him tremble, it was hard for the spectators to believe that courage, and not strength, would win the victory. The lion was too much excited and famished to remain very long undecided. After more steps back, which he made as if gaining time for reflection, he suddenly advanced in a sidelong direction, in order to charge upon his adversary. The Sicilian did not move, but followed with his fixed eyes the motion of the lion. Greatly irritated, the beast gave a mighty spring, uttering a terrible roar ; the man, at the same moment, leaped aside, and the lion had barely touched the ground when the club came down upon his head with *a dull shocking thud. The king of the desert rolled heavily under the stroke, and fell headlong, stunned and senseless, but not dead. The spectators overcome with admiration, and awed at the exhibition of so much calmness, address, and strength were hushed into profound silence. The next moment the Bey arose, and, with a gesture of the hand, asked mercy for his favourite Hon. " A thousand ducats the more if you will not kill him 1" he cried to the Sicilian. " Agreed 1" was the instant reply. The lion lay panting on the ground. The Hercules bowed at the word of the Bey, and slowly withdrew, still keeping his eye on the conquered brute.—Exchange.