70 GEBABD, THE LION HUNTEB 



' Good morning, my lord,' replied A'issa, rather 

 nervously, as she thought of the past. ' Can I do any- 

 thing for your lordship ? ' 



' You can do me a service.' 



' What is it ? ' 



' Come near me.' 



The girl drew near trembling inwardly. 



' Here I am.' 



' Good. Now lift up your axe.' 



She obeyed. 



' Now strike me with it on the head.' 



'But, my lord, you — you — can't mean 



' On the contrary, I do mean so.' 



' But my lord ' 



' Strike ! ' 



' Eeally, my lord ? ' 



' Will you strike ? ' 



' Oh, yes, my lord,' said Aissa, more frightened than 

 ever. ' Hard or light ? ' 



' As hard as ever you can.' 



' But I shall hurt you ! ' 



' What's that to you ? ' 



' And you really wish it ? ' 



' I really do.' 



So the girl struck as she was bid, and the axe made a 

 deep cut between the lion's eyes. It is ever since then 

 that lions have that straight furrow in their faces which 

 is particularly noticeable when they frown. 



' Thank you, Aissa,' said the lion, and with three 

 great bounds he vanished into the depth of the forest. 



' Dear me ! ' thought the girl, rather hurt at his dis- 

 appearance ; ' I wonder why he never offered to see me 

 home to-day ! ' 



Of course this second adventure of A'issa's caused a 

 great deal of excitement, but the most ingenious brain 

 could make no guess as to what might be the intentions 

 of this strange and mysterious lion. 





