The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 142: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

526 THE ARGOSY. Guy’s companions were helpless with fear and dread. Forbes alone had self possession enough to remember that he had a revolver. It was not loaded, and he trembled so much that he could scarcely draw the shells from his pocket. , ‘Hurry! Hurry!’ whispered the colonel. ‘‘‘The brute may tear him apart any moment.’’ Meanwhile Guy lay white and motionless in the grasp of the lion. Not a muscle quivered, and his eyes were closed. Suddenly, as Forbes was nervously ramming the shells into the revolver, the beast turned on his prey with a vicious growl and seized Guy’s arm loosely in his mighty jaws. In another instant Chutney would have been dragged off, but help was to come from an unlooked for source. With a single bound Bildad sprang out upon the sand, brandishing a huge spear that Canaris had brought with him from the lake. > Another leap carried him within a yard or two of the lion, and the amazed spectators had a brief vision of the enraged beast quivering for a spring at the audacious African. Then the spear flashed in the torchlight, and as Bildad sprang to one side, the lion, with a mighty roar, toppled over on the sand—dead. ‘The spear had pierced his heart. For an instant no one realized what had happened. ‘The lion in his fall had cleared his victim entirely, and before any one thought of moving forward Guy pulled himself to his feet and staggered feebly toward the raft. Melton ran forward just in time to catch him in his arms. ‘Thank God,’’ he exclaimed fervently. ‘‘ You are not hurt, Chutney ?’”’ ‘“ No, I think not,’’ was Guy’s response; ‘‘ only stunned and bruised a little. It was a close call.’’ ““Close! Ishould say it was. It’s the first time I ever saw a lion killed in that way. Bildad saved your life, for Melton could never have killed the brute with that toy he has there.’’ A strange sound suddenly diverted their attention to Bildad. The savage was ripping open the dead lion’s throat with a spear, and throwing himself on his knees, he lapped up greedily the red blood as it flowed from the wound. It was a horrible and fascinating sight. He drank long and deeply, and when at length he rose from his savage feast the ferocity of the lion seemed actually to have flowed into his own veins, so horrible and demon-like was the expression on the dusky face. Shaking the blood stained spear, he shouted two or three times in a frenzied manner, and then tottering to the raft, flung himself aniong the rugs. ‘We are saved,’’ cried Forbes with sudden inspiration. ‘‘’There lies meat in plenty.’’ Melton’s words caused a speedy revulsion of feeling. ‘The colonel shouted for very joy, and Canaris sprang toward the dead lion with drawn knife. cComiclooks (©