John Burroughs, the naturalist, was laughing about the story, widely
published not long since, of a wild duck that got a salt-water mussel
caught on its tongue and had intelligence enough to fly from the salt to
the fresh water, where it dipped the mussel, sickening it through osmosis,
and thus causing it to loosen its firm grip.
"I believe that story of the duck that understood the theory of osmosis,"
said Mr. Burroughs. "I believe it as implicitly as I believe the story of
the crippled lion and the young lieutenant.
"A young lieutenant, during an African campaign, came one day upon a badly
crippled lion. The great brute limped over the tawny sand on three paws,
holding its fourth paw in the air. And every now and then, with a kind of
groan, it would pause and lick the injured paw piteously.
"When the lion saw the young lieutenant it came slowly toward him. He
stood his ground, rifle in hand. But the beast meant no harm. It drew
close to him; it rubbed against him with soft feline purrs; it extended
its hurt paw.
"The lieutenant examined the paw and found that there was a large thorn in
it. He extracted the thorn, the lion roaring with pain, and he bound up
the wound with his handkerchief. Then, with every manifestation of relief
and gratitude, the animal withdrew.
"But it remembered its benefactor. It was grateful. And in a practical way
it rewarded the young man.
"This lion ran over the regiment's list of officers, and ate all who were
the lieutenant's superiors in rank. Thus, in a few weeks the young man,
thanks to the astute animal, became a colonel."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._