226 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



they were fighting the young, the odds became terrible 

 against the would-be captors. A hundred were killed 

 and many more wounded ; but eighty young lions were 

 brought back to please the powerful emperor, who put 

 them in a magnificent cage he had had built especially 

 for his pets. Then, turning to the unfortunate slaves, 

 he said disdainfully, — 



" Here is excellent food for my lions ! " 



Not a day passed but he and his suite were present 

 at his favorites' feast on human flesh, to watch their 

 cat-like gracefulness, and applaud their blood-thirsty 

 ferocity. As they grew larger the emperor had their 

 teeth filed down and their claws cut, and the trainers 

 put into the cage to teacli them docility and prepare 

 them for his own royal coming. In a few weeKs he 

 was able to spend hours in the pleasure of their com- 

 pany, his own tastes and passions proving a bond of 

 sympathy with these fierce mates. More than this, in a 

 glistening chariot drawn by twenty of the handsomest 

 lions, he drove through tlie rich quarters of Carthage 

 carrying terror before him, and handling his curious 

 team with a firm rein, while he smiled to see his sub- 

 jects fly in fear at his approach. From these wild drives 

 he returned to his palace satisfied with such glory. 



Meanwhile the Senate and people met, and, after brief 

 deliberation, decreed that Hanno should be exiled, under 

 the pretext that he who could subjugate the lion might 

 think of doing the same to the freeborn citizen. 



