Part 34 (1/2)

Yes, he did see, just at that instant, and started back in astonishave a roar which could be heard for miles around

Crack! It was the report of dick's pistol, but the youth was nervous, and the bullet e The beast roared again, then crouched down and prepared to leap upon the youth

But the wounded forepaas a hindrance to the lion's e, seeking a better point from which to make a leap

Then dick's pistol spoke up a second time

This shot was a far better one, and the bullet passed directly through the knee-joint of the lion's left forepaw He was noounded in both fore lile tremble Twice he started to leap down into the hollow, but each time retreated to shake one wounded limb after another into the air hines of pain and distress

As soon as the great beast reappeared onceSoon his pistol was eain In nervous haste the lad started to re-load only to find that his cartridge box was empty

”Get out!” he yelled at the lion, and threw a stone at the beast

But the lion was now determined to descend into the hollow, and paused only to calculate a sure leap to the boy's head

But that pause, brief as it as fatal to the calculations of the le Fro him in a vulnerable portion of his body

He leaped up into the air, rolled over on the edge of the hollow, and then ca at the boy's feet, stone dead

”Hurrah! I reckon I hit him!” came in Tom Rover's voice

”And so did I,” came from Randolph Rover

”But he has disappeared”

”This way, Toth he could co like a reed in the wind and all of the color had deserted his face

”It's dick!” ejaculated Tom ”I told you that I had heard several pistol shots”

Soon Tom and Mr Rover presented themselves at the top of the hollow, followed by Aleck and Cujo The latter procured a rope made of twisted vines, and by this dick was raised up without much difficulty

CHAPTER XXVI

THE LAST OF JOSIAH CRABTREE

All listened intently to the story dick had to tell, and he had not yet finished when dick Chester presented hi been attracted to the vicinity by the roars of the lion and the various pistol and gun shots

”This Crabtree must certainly be as bad as you represent,” he said ”I will have a talk with hiet back to our camp”

”It won't be necessary for you to talk to hiriht,” grinned the Yale student ”Do, as you please We are a getting tired of him”

Chester and Cujo descended into the hollow to exa which Chester proved had come from his rifle ”He must be the beast Frank Rand and I fired at from across the lake Probably he had his hoht”

”In that case you are entitled to your fair share of the meat--if you wish any,” said Randolph Rover with a soes to Tom, for he fired the shot that was really fatal” And that skin did go to Tom, and lies on his parlor floor at home today

”Several of the students fro tour the afternoon before, in the direction, of theseveral natives who had seen King Susko He was reported to have but half a dozen of his tribe with hi a fellon as Poison Eye