GERARD, THE LION HUNTER 73 



A month later Ai'ssa once more returned to the forest. 

 She had barely had time to cut a few sticks when the 

 lion emerged from behind some shrubs ; no longer 

 gracious and affectionate as at first, or melancholy as 

 at their second meeting, but looking gloomy and almost 

 threatening. Ai'ssa longed to turn and flee, but the lion's 

 glance seemed to root her feet to the spot. He approached, 

 and she felt that if she attempted to take a step she 

 should certainly fall down. 



' Look at my forehead,' said the lion sternly. 



' Let my lord remember that it was only by his 

 express orders that I struck him with my axe.' 



' I do remember, and I thank you. That is not what 

 I wish to discuss with you.' 



' "What does your lordship wish to discuss with me ? ' 



' I wish you to look at my wound.' 



' I am looking.' 



' How is it going on ? ' 



' Wonderfully well, my lord, it is nearly healed.' 



' This proves, Ai'ssa,' said the lion, ' that wounds given 

 to the body are very different from those inflicted on the 

 feelings. The former heal with time, but the latter never.' 



This moral sentence was followed by a sharp cry 

 and then complete silence. 



Three days later Aissa's father, searching everywhere 

 for his daughter, found her axe. But of Ai'ssa herself 

 there was no trace, nor was anything ever heard of her 

 again. 



The Aral) had barely concluded the legend (said 

 Gerard) when a well-known sound sent a thrill through 

 us all. It was the roar of a lion, probably of the one I 

 had been seeking the last eight or ten days. I sprang at 

 my gun, Amida seized his, and we both hurried towards 

 the spot from which the sound eame. It seemed to be 

 more than a mile off. We counted three roars ; then the 

 lion ceased, and we marched on towards him. 



