142 NEIGHBORS WITH CLAWS AND HOOFS. 



and, going back a few paces, rushed at his fallen foe. A 

 loud yell was given by the lion, which was answered by 

 the distant howlings of the jackals. Again the ferocious 

 boar charged till he buried his very snout in the body of 

 the lion, who was kicking in the agonies of death. Blood, 

 indeed, flowed from the sides of the boar, but his bristles 

 still stood erect as he triumphed over the sultan of the 

 forest ; and now he seemed to be getting bigger and big- 

 ger. < God is great ! ' said I, as I trembled with dread ; 

 4 he will soon reach me on this rock.' I threw myself flat 

 on my face and cried out, ' There is no other God but 

 God, and Mohammed is his prophet ! ' 



11. "I soon recovered my courage, and looked around 

 again. The boar had returned to his natural size and was 

 slaking his thirst at the fountain. I seized my gun ; but 

 reflecting, said within myself : < Why should I kill him ? 

 He will not be of any use to me ; he has fought bravely 

 and left me the skin of a lion, and perhaps he may be an 

 evil spirit.' So I laid the gun down, contenting myself 

 with the thought of to-morrow. 



12. " The boar had left the fountain, and was again 

 busied rooting in the marsh, when another slight noise as 

 of a rustling in the wood attracted my notice, and I could 

 perceive the smaller head of a lioness looking with horror 

 at the body of her dead mate. ' God is great ! ' said the 

 lioness ; i but he shall pay for it. What ! a pig, an infi- 

 del ! One spring, and I will do for him ! ' Having said 

 these words, she advanced boldly. The boar stood pre- 

 pared, grinding his teeth with rage. 



13. "She paused, and again retreated to the wood; 

 and I could hear her say : ' What an immense boar ! What 

 an infidel ! ' 



14. " ' May God burn your great-great-grandmother ! ' 

 said the boar. On hearing the creature curse her parent, 



