cass, and this was secured to a large
block of wood, not so large but that a
lion could drag it, yet large enough to
prevent his going far away should he
get his paw into the trap. It often
happens that if a lion or leopard is
caught in a trap of this kind that is
securely fastened to an object the animal
cannot drag, it will gnaw its paw off
and make good its escape on three legs.
FTER making sure that the traps
were in perfect order, Matthew
and his assistant teachers withdrew
to their huts to await developments. The
first half of the night was spent around
a huge bonfire, which was built on the
campus of the mission, and many
reminiscences of experiences with wild
animals were exchanged, which of course
only served to increase the nervous
state of those present. By this time the
mission and the neighboring villages
were in a state of wild excitement, and
although some ventured to retire, it is
safe to conjecture that no eye was closed
in sleep. The night, however, gradually
began to wear away, and it seemed as
though their efforts to trap the ma-
rauders were to be to no purpose, when
suddenly a rifle shot rang out through
the deathlike stillness that had fallen
over the mission, and this was followed
by a few terrific roars, which resounded
through the neighboring forests and
struck terror to every heart.
As it was not yet dawn, no one dared
venture out to investigate the situation,
since nothing is so dangerous as a
wounded lion, and the roaring had
indicated that the shot had at least not
killed the animal outright. Preparations,
however, were immediately made for
the chase after the wounded lion.
Assegais (long-handled spears), clubs,
knives, and anything and everything
that could be used as weapons, were
collected, together with ammunition for
the old rifle. As soon as it was light
enough to see, the company, headed by
Matthew, cautiously sallied forth toward
the traps. A number of old hunters
from the surrounding villages, who had
also heard the rifle shot and the roaring
of the wounded animal, came with their
assegais and joined the party, in the
hope of securing some meat as well as
sharing in the glory should a lion actually
be killed.
HEN the company approached
the carcass there were no signs
of the lions about, but the rifle had been
discharged and the steel trap was gone.
Also, there was blood spattered all
about the inclosure and leading off into
the bush. Untying the rifle from the
bush fence, Matthew reloaded it, and
again assuming his place at the head of
the party, they set off into the bush,
following the blood stains and the path
made by the large block of wood fastened
to the steel trap. ‘They had come to the
conclusion that after the rifle had
wounded the lion he had floundered
JULY, 1929
about in the inclosure until he had gotten
his paw into the trap, and after regain-
ing his strength a bit he had made off,
dragging the trap with him.
The company had proceeded only a
few hundred yards when an ugly growl
brought them suddenly to a halt, and
one can perhaps imagine their astonish-
ment when, on peering through the bush,
they saw, only a few paces ahead, a huge
male lion prone upon the ground, with a
lioness crouched by his side with her
paw in the steel trap, feeding upon the
other, who had died of the wounds re-
ceived from the rifle shot.
Leveling the rifle at the head of the
lioness, Matthew fired and succeeded
in inflicting a mortal wound. In a few
minutes she was lying dead beside her
mate.
After the danger was passed, every
member of the party, whether from
far or near, had to have the privilege
of thrusting his assegat into the carcasses
in order that upon returning to his
village he might be able to prove his
prowess in helping to kill the lion. Long
will this thrilling experience be retold
round a hundred village campfires for
many miles around the Musofu Mission,
and long will Matthew be a mighty man
of valor among his followers.
N THE same mission, on August 7,
1925, Mrs. Wheeler had an exacting
experience, which was almost too much
for her nerves. A leopard that had been
wounded in one front foot so that it
could not catch its usual prey took up
its abode just back of the church and
began to feast on fowls. The boys saw it
a time or two; and on this day Jack, the
cook, saw it and gave chase with the
dishcloth in his hand. Mr. Wheeler's
young dog went with Jack and tackled
the leopard. Jack ran back to the house,
and Mrs. Wheeler gave him a shot gun
and four cartridges. The dog kept worry-
ing the leopard so it did not get away; but
Jack, who did not know very well how
Photo by T. M. French
to shoot, used up the four cartridges
without killing the leopard. It then came
at him, and he clubbed it with the shot
gun. When he had finished, the leopard
was supposed to be dead, and the val-
uable gun was “dead” too, and the
pieces scattered about. Mrs. Wheeler,
her little daughter, Helen Eva, and the
school boys went to see the leopard,
and Jack went for his own gun. It was
soon found that the leopard was not
dead, so Mrs Wheeler hurried back to the
house with Helen Eva. Almost as soon
as she got back, the school boys came
running saying that the leopard had
killed Jack, that they were afraid, and
had run away and left him to his fate.
It was a cowardly thing to do, for some
of them were grown young men, and
carrying spears. In a little while Jack
came along, like a man raised from the
dead, but dripping with blood. The
leopard had bitten one arm and knocked
him down and grabbed for his throat,
but Jack had had the presence of mind
to guard his throat with his other hand,
which was badly bitten. Then the dog
rushed in and drove the leopard off,
and Jack escaped, followed by the dog.
The dog had a big gash in his throat,
but his large collar saved him from death.
Mrs. Wheeler began to dress the wounds,
and Jack, although he was almost
fainting away, sent a boy to the village
for help. The villagers turned out
promptly with all their guns and spears
and soon tracked and killed the leopard,
but not before it jumped on one of their
party, who was clawed in the back and
side, but not seriously.
Such an experience makes the mis-
sionary give some earnest thoughts as
to the safety of his family when he is
away on long trips into the interior.
N OUR return journey to Eliza-
bethville, Belgian Congo, from an
exploring trip into the jungle our road
led through some of the wildest sections
of West Africa. For the greater part of
A missionary camp in the African wilds
PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN