THE SULTANA OF THE DESERT. 33 



the Arabs. Aren't you ashamed ? Never mind, they are 

 worse animals than you are ; but please don't take a fancy 

 to grind up a poor Frenchman. If you do, you won't 

 have me to love you any more." 



19. This animal was so fond of caresses and play, that 

 if her companion sat many minutes without noticing her 

 she would put her paws upon his lap to attract attention. 

 In this way several days passed. The panther became 

 used to the inflections of the soldier's voice and under- 

 stood the expressions of his face. While her beauty 

 pleased, she delighted him most when she was on a frolic. 

 She showed the perfection of grace and agility as she 

 glided swiftly along, jumping, bounding, and rolling over 

 and over. When she was darting away at full speed, she 

 would stop suddenly when the Frenchman called, " Mig- 

 nonne ! " 



20. One day a large bird sailed through the air over 

 their heads. In the desert anything that has life is of in- 

 terest. The soldier stepped apart to watch the flight of 

 the bird as it slowly and heavily fanned the air. In a 

 few moments the sultana began to growl. " She is cer- 

 tainly jealous," said the soldier, as he looked into her 

 fierce and glittering eyes. They looked at each other, 

 and the proud creature leaped as she felt his hand on her 

 head. Her eyes flashed lightning as she shut them hard. 

 " The creature must have a soul ! " exclaimed the French- 

 man. 



21. This account was given me by the soldier himself 

 as we met near the panther's cage in the menagerie at 

 Paris. "I do not know," continued he, "what I had 

 done to displease Mignonne, or whether the creature was 

 merely in sport ; but she turned around, snapped her 

 teeth at me, and seized hold of my leg. Thinking she 

 was about to destroy me, I plunged the dagger into her 



