HUNTING THE LION. 461 



ost many horses and men ?" And when he replied, that it was easy 

 enough ; that he waited till they came to the encounter, and that if 

 they came not to him he went to them ; they would shake their heads 

 and say, " Ah ! these lions of Guelma are but children." 



The natives of Seguia challenged our hero to give them a proof of 

 his prowess. He accepted it and thus related the sequel : " It was 

 the 28th of January. I was told there were several lions in the Ze- 

 razcr mountains, about twenty leagues to the south of Constantine. 

 The weather continuing very unfavorable till the 1st of February, 1 

 contented myself with despatching some Arabs to reconnoitre the 

 different stations about the mountain, and occupied my time with other 

 affairs. On the first of the month, two small parties of natives placed 

 themselves at my disposal. I instructed them to proceed to the woods 

 at an early hour on the following morning, and light a great beacon, 

 fire as soon as they discovered the track of a lion on his return towards 

 the mountain. I concluded the whole neighborhood would rally 

 round the fire. On the 3d, at eight o'clock in the morning, I mounted 

 my horse, accompanied by two native sheiks, each taking command 

 of a party, and after following the foot of the mountain towards the 

 south for an hour, perceived a column of smoke ascending from a 

 rock ; it was the signal of my spies. On approaching the rendezvous 

 I saw an Arab standing at the base of a declivity, high up on the 

 mountain ; and, following the direction of his hand, presently per- 

 ceived abundant signs of .more than one lion. They say that a sin 

 confessed is half expiated. So much the better, then, for I will ac- 

 knowledge my vanity was gratified at beholding on one side of me 

 the foot-prints of three lions, and, on the other, forty Arabs, armed 

 to the teeth, the expectant witnesses of my valor and prowess. 



" My attendant followed me silently, as, dismounting, I cautiously 

 pursued the trail of the beasts, endeavoring to obtain a sight of 

 them. As I turned back, I marked an expression of sly mischief 

 on his face, as much as to say, ' There are three of them for you !' 

 They are but young,' I observed, ' not more than three years of 

 age ; I should have preferred an old lion.' He shrugged big 

 shoulders, and went away to relate what I had said to his compa- 

 nions, whom I presently joined. ' Let two mefl take our horses, 



