Read Motor Matt's Reverse; or, Caught in a Losing Cause Page 21

  A SCRIMMAGE OF LIONS.

  Captive lions, like fire flames, are fine things when under control,but when once they get the upper hand then indeed they are terrible.In her book, "Behind the Scenes with Wild Animals," Ellen Velvindescribes a battle between a number of these brutes which took place ina showroom at Richmond, Virginia. It came off at a rehearsal, so thatthe public lost the chance to see it.

  Only one man was concerned in the fight. That was Captain Bonavita, whohad managed twenty-seven lions at one time. The cause of the fight wasthe arrival of newcomers from their native jungles.

  When the arena was ready for the rehearsal, Bonavita had considerabletrouble in getting the animals out, and when the first one finallyappeared, it was not in the slow, stately manner in which he usuallyentered, but in a quick, restless way, which showed that he was in anexcitable state. He was followed by seventeen others, all in the samenervous condition.

  Instead of getting on the pedestals in their usual way, the lions, withone exception, a big, muscular fellow, began to sniff at the corners ofthe arena, where the newcomers had been exercising, and every momentadded to their rage. Their fierce natures were excited by jealousy,so that when one lion presumed to go over to a corner and follow upthe sniffing of another, the first one turned upon him and bit himsavagely. The other promptly retaliated, and in the twinkling of an eyethey were fighting fiercely.

  The temper of the others flashed up like gunpowder, and almostinstantly seventeen lions were engaged in a wild, free fight.

  The one big fellow who had climbed on his pedestal when he enteredstill sat there, but at this moment the remaining nine lions appearedin the arena, followed by Bonavita.

  The animals rushed forward into the battle; the big lion with an uglysnarl leaped from his pedestal into the thick of the fray, and in aninstant twenty-seven lions were fighting with teeth and claws. In themidst of it all stood one man, calm, self-possessed, but with everynerve and muscle at their highest tension, for he knew better than anyone else that his life hung in the balance.

  Bonavita vainly tried to regain mastery over the fighting beasts. Thelions were no longer the puppets of a show; they were the monarchs ofthe wild, turbulent and savage.

  Seeing his power gone, Bonavita did his best to save his own life. Hesucceeded in getting out, thanks to his wonderful nerve--for he hadto jump over the backs of the fighting animals, and in doing so hereceived a deep wound in the shoulder.

  There was nothing to be done but to let the lions fight it out, whichthey did. For nearly two hours that awful battle raged; but, when thelions were exhausted, Bonavita, wounded as he was, went in and drovethem into their cages.

  Many of the lions after this terrible fight were seriously injured,and had to be treated for wounds, cuts, and tears; but they had foughtthemselves out, and the next week they went through their performancesas mildly as kittens.