152 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



that it took a considerable amount of persuasion on 

 my part to prevent him entering the bush in search 

 of the object that had caused his indignation. 



The death of the lion's victim must have been 

 immediate, for it never uttered a cry. Thus, by a 

 merciful Providence, the demise of the smaller quad- 

 rupeds is robbed of half its pains, when it occurs at 

 the hands of the " king of beasts." 



The lion did not go far to enjoy his meal, and 

 from the noise that took place at the repast it was 

 evident several companions had dropped in to sup 

 with him. If yelling and roaring denoted hunger, 

 then these midnight despoilers must have been 

 ravenous. 



But there were other ears listening to this dia- 

 bolical disturbance ears which seemed to fully 

 appreciate a music which, up to the present time, 

 they had been comparatively unfamiliar with. Leo 

 and Juno, as long as I had known them, always 

 slept the peace of the innocent from sunset to dawn. 

 The early part of this night had been similarly spent ; 

 but, now that they had been roused by the angry 

 disputings natural to their mature species, the devil 

 himself seemed to have taken possession of them, 

 so that they yelled and snarled and fought against 

 their confinement with a determination worthy of the 

 cause of freedom. Certainly the little beasts were 

 not much larger than Clumber spaniels ; but, as an 

 American would express it, they were undeniably 



