66 GERARD, THE LION HUNTER 



by the gentle tones of her formidable acquaintance, and 

 surprised that this strange and splendid lion should know 

 her name. 



' "Who can have told you what I am called, my lord ? ' 

 she inquired. 



' The breeze which loves you, and which, after play- 

 ing through your hair, carries its perfume to the roses 

 as it sighs " Ai'ssa ! " The stream which loves you, and 

 which, after bathing your fair feet, waters the moss in 

 my cave as it murmurs " Ai'ssa ! " The bird which, since 

 it heard your voice, has been jealous of you, and died of 

 pique as it cried " Ai'ssa ! " ' 



The girl blushed with pleasure, and began to arrange 

 her veil, taking great care, however, to do it in such a 

 way that the lion could see her all the better ; for whether 

 the flatterer is a lion or a fox, and the one flattered an 

 Arab maiden or a crow, you see the result of flattery is 

 always much the same everywhere, and with every one. 



The lion, who had hitherto remained at a little distance, 

 now ventured to draw nearer to the girl, but seeing her 

 begin to tremble again, he asked, in his tenderest and most 

 anxious voice : What is the matter, Ai'ssa ? ' 



She longed to answer, ' I am afraid of you, my lord,' 

 but did not dare ; so said, ' The Touareg tribe is not far 

 off, and I am so afraid of the Touaregs.' 



The lion smiled, after the fashion of lions. ' When 

 you are with me,' he said, ' you need fear nothing.' 



' But,' replied Ai'ssa, ' I shall not always have the 

 honour of your company. It is getting late, and my 

 father's tent is some way from here.' 



' I will escort you home,' said the lion. 



Refusal was impossible, and Ai'ssa had no choice but 

 to accept. The lion came up close, and held out his head 

 as a support, much as a gentleman might offer a lady his 

 arm ; the girl laid her hand on his mane, and, side by side, 

 they set out for the tent of Aissa's father. 



On their way they met gazelles, who started away 





