A LETTER FROM THE NIGER. 261 



and they immediately formed a hollow square around 

 their sovereign to protect him from the dangerous beast, 

 while a noted hunter, named The Sun, advanced a few 

 steps to see what threatened them. His long lance witli 

 its silken and golden haudle was beside him, and he was 

 ready, if necessary, to die for his king. Suddenly disorder 

 ran through the ranks ; the torches were unexpectedly 

 extinguished ; every one cried out and gesticulated, and 

 fell upon the supposed enemy, and wounded one another, 

 until a terril^le shriek pierced the night, followed by 

 intense silence. Then The Sun relit his torch, and was 

 horrified to find, in a pool of blood, a sacred monkey, 

 dead and stiff ; and a laugh went up from all the 

 frightened men, but the Prince sat silent and grave. 



"' Who has killed this inoffensive animal?' thundered 

 he. 



'' ' It is I, great Prince ; I pierced him with mj- lance, 

 to protect you from danger.' 



" ' Who autliorized you to shed blood ? ' 



"The Sun hung his head in silence ; and at a sign from 

 the despot, he was seized by the soldiers, and chained to 

 a cart that followed the procession. He knew that death 

 was the invarial^le penalty for wounding one of these 

 venerated animals, and although he was a great favorite 

 of the sultan, he could hope for no mere}'. 



"When the journey was ended he was called before his 

 master, who said, — 



"'If I give you your liberty, what will you do with it?' 



