ARAB STOIIY OF A LION. 49 



" These sixty Arabs, after having surrounded tho 

 thickets, gave several shouts, and as the lioness did 

 not appear, they entered it and took possession of 

 her two cubs. 



" They were retiring noisily, imagining they had 

 nothing more to fear from the mother, when tho 

 Sheik, Sedek, who was somewhat behind the rest, 

 perceived tho beast coming out of the wood and 

 making directly towards him. 



" He instantly called out to his nephew, Mecaoud 

 and his friend Ali-ben-Brahara, who ran to his as- 

 sistance. The lioness, however, instead of attack- 

 ing the sheik, who was mounted, rushed upon his 

 nephew, who was on foot. 



" This man bravely awaited her approach, and 

 did not pull the trigger until the muzzle of his gun 

 touched the beast. 



" The piece merely flashed in the pan ! 



" Mecaoud threw down his gun, and presented 

 to the lioness his left arm, enveloped in his bour- 

 nous. 



" The beast seized hold of his arm and crushed it 

 into a pulp. The brave young man, without re- 

 treating a single step, and without uttering a com- 

 plaint, drew a pistol from under his bournous, and 

 lodged two balls in the lioness's belly, which com- 

 pelled her to let go her hold. 



' : In another moment she rushed upon Ali-ben- 

 Bruham, who sent a ball, though without much 

 effect, between her distended jaws. He was seized 

 by the shoulder and thrown to the ground. His 

 riijfht hand is crushed, several of his ribs are laid 



O y 



v, 



