76 GERARD, THE LION HUNTER 



when the owner of the sheep arrived, hot and panting, 

 and told me that he had followed the traces of the lion 

 for a mile and a half, but had been unable to go further. 

 However, all his information was very precise, and I was 

 able to give orders to my two beaters, who, luckily, were 

 experienced men, for a track is far more difficult to follow 

 up in summer than in winter. 



They were both Arabs, from thirty to thirty-five 

 years of age, strong, hardy, and cunning — true sons of the 

 desert. 



One was called Bilkassem, and the other Amar Ben- 

 Sarah. 



They divided the work between them, Bilkassem 

 taking the animal from the time he left the settlement, 

 and Amar Ben- Sarah from the point where the owner of 

 the sheep had lost the track. 



After a search of nearly two miles, Bilkassem found 

 the skin of the sheep — for the lion is a dainty animal, and 

 does not eat hides ; and, on reaching the neighbouring 

 well, Bilkassem found a mark left by Amar Ben-Sarah. 

 It was needless for him to go any further. His comrade 

 was on the track, and he knew there was not much chance 

 of its being lost. So Bilkassem returned to the tent and 

 brought me his report. 



Meantime Ben- Sarah followed the lion. 



Towards mid- day Amar Ben- Sarah returned too. The 

 lion had retired into its lair. The Arab had described a 

 circle of a thousand paces round his den, and thus made 

 sure of finding the exact spot. It was nearly 4,000 

 yards off. 



My mind was made up, in all probability we should 

 meet that very day. 



The day wore on. I felt nervous and excited, and 

 could neither eat, read, nor occupy myself with anything, 

 in my feverish impatience, and shortly before sunset I 

 set out. It is the time when any natives who may 

 happen to have a lion in their neighbourhood invariably 



