Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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at best I could stop but one of the fierce animals which menaced the life of our companion. Even as I looked there was a tawny streak through the moonlight. I shut my teeth in despair and fired blindly. The report of Craig ' s rifle rang out with mine — the body fell heavily across Danton ' s chest, sprang convulsively into the air again, and dropped; our shots had been true. But while the reports of our weapons still rang in our ears, the second lion, somewhat disconcerted by the appearance of a new foe, sprang down beside Danton ' s body and stood defiantly over it. We were helpless ! Not one chance in a thousand to shoot without killing Danton if indeed he were yet alive. Then- -a blast as of the last trumpet shook the very mountain-side — redoubled its volume by its echo from the confining canyon walls — seemed to shatter the very air with its deafening intonations. Out of the thicket close under the rock emerged the head and shoulders of our beloved Raymond, his slender neck outstretched, his nostrils distended, his mouth open, and out of it pouring tumultuous torrents of sounds that were sweeter to our ears than any symphony. The startled lion, with one terrified leap, disappeared into the brush. In a moment we reached the bottom and found Danton alive but quite unconscious. Glad? I could have done the Highland Fling on one foot. I threw my arms around Raymond ' s neck and cried for joy, and he seemed almost to know what he had done, and proceeded to extract a couple of cartridges from my belt by way of refreshment. With great difficulty we carried Danton to camp and made him as comfortable as possible for the remainder of the night. A careful examination showed that he had suffered several painful, though not fatal, injuries. It was ten days before he was able to get about again, but he recovered sufficiently to enjoy several successful hunts before our three weeks had passed. Raymond, dissatisfied with a comfortable place in which to pass the night, and with the juicy grass which surrounded him, had, in some mysterious way best known to himself, loosened his rope and worked his way up, up through the brush to the foot of the rock. There his rope became entangled in the manzanita, and he found himself a captive in unpleasant surroundings. We returned from our trip carrying three skins, which now stretch their tawny lengths on our respective parlor floors. And often, as I sit in the evening gazing in reverie into the coals of the grate before which the great rug lies, I go over the fearful hazard at which it came into my possession. Percy Warner, ' 98. 21

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t As the moon came into view over the tops of the mountains, I suddenly saw- outlined against the bright sky the form of a huge lion, sitting upon a rocky point on the mountain-side. From the point where the lion sat upon his haunches there was a precipitous descent of sixty feet, and then the steep slope of debris and shale to the edge of the stream bed — a distance of a hundred yards — thickly covered with tangled thicket. My friend, said Danton, as he picked up his rifle and stepped back out of the firelight, I guess you have eaten your last supper of burro meat, for you made a big mistake when you came out onto that rock. With that he threw the rifle to his face and pulled the trigger. There was a loud report, a flash of fire, and we saw the lion leap into the air and fall back, apparently upon the rock. Another one of those ugly varmints to my account, said he quietly; it gives me more real pleasure to plunk one of them than it does to kill a half dozen bear, for the}- are the meanest, most treacherous critters that were ever put on earth. If that carcass stays there all night something will tear the hide to pieces, and I want it ; so I guess I w-ill just skip up there and bring Mr. Lion down. You fellows can go on up the canyon looking for Raymond, and I will be down again in fifteen minutes and overtake you. With that he left in spite of our protests against his doing such a foolhardy thing. Replenishing the fire we took our guns and commenced a short search for the burro. We had gone about a quarter of a mile or so when three shots, fired in quick succession, told us that Danton was interestingly engaged. We immedi- ately turned back and ran as fast as we could down the canyon. As we reached the vicinity of the camp, sounds of a fierce struggle burst upon our ears. A flash of light and a sharp report, followed by a brutish scream of rage, revealed to us the nature of the conflict that was taking place upon the summit of the rock. What was to be done? How could we reach him in time? Ah! the narrow canyon and the passage through the brush ! Its opening was just before us, and I now saw that it must lead out upon the hillside near the summit of the rock. To think was to act; and, clutching Craig by the arm, I shouted Follow 7 me ! and dashed into the black mouth of the canyon. Up we clambered, falling over rocks and logs, but never faltering for one instant, even when the closely matted briers tore our hands and faces or forced us to our knees. Now the way became clear, and we sprang panting out upon the hillside. At the same instant I heard a cry of warning, a shot behind me, and the heavy body of a lion struck me with terrific force and knocked me to the ground. I expected to feel its teeth and claws sink into my flesh, but they did not, and I sprang to my feet to find it in the throes of death. No time to tarry, or even to be thankful; we dashed toward the cliff. Danton was gone, but on the ground were tw 7 o great tawny bodies, and, scattered about, were several pieces of clothing, while near the edge of the rock was Danton ' s heavy knife. I peered over the edge. I turned sick at the sight which met my eyes. There at the bottom lay Danton, still and white, while on a ledge a few feet above him crouched a lion. To one side and on the ground was another, his great head low between his paws and his whole body quivering as he prepared to spring. I took in the situation at a glance. The lion on the ledge was directly between Danton and myself. I dared not fire at it. The only thing to do was to shoot the other one, and even that seemed to be a fruitless effort, for 20

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lite The Seniors now are thinking of the past, As the hour for Graduation comes at last ; Of the many High School joys that now are o ' er, Of vacation days that they will see no moj ' e. Xame Course I. Ardley, Fanny . . Scientific 2. Ardley, Harry . . . . . Scientific 3- ASPLANDT, C. HALTON Scientific 3- Avery, Fannie H. Literary 4- Baird, D. L. Scientific 5- Baird, Frank ...... . Scientific 6. Barker, James Loring . Classical 7- Barnett, Arnold Scientific 8. Basham, William Edmond Scientific 9- Berka, F. Homer , Scientific IO. Bird, Enid Alaine Scientific 1 1 . Bramlet, Eva Laura . • . Literary 12. Brock, Joshua O. Scientific !3- Brown, Pearl .... Literary T 4- Chappell, June Swain Literary 15- Childs, Harold Melville . Scientific 16. Clark, Ernest Brooks . Scientific 17- Clarke, Mabel Ruth Scientific 18. Cohn, Arthur A. Scientific 19- Cohn, Laura Edna Literary 20. Cummings, Harold Oscar Classical 2 I . Davenport, Hewitt . Scientific Xo photograph.