20 THE LION KILLER. 



Mecaoud threw aside his useless weapon, and presented his 

 left arm wrapped in his bournous. The lioness seized the 

 arm, and the bones crashed in her powerful jaws; but 

 Mecaoud, without retreating a step or making a single cry, 

 drew his pistol that he carried under his bournous, and forced 

 the lioness to leave her hold by driving two balls in her 

 breast. She then bounded on Ali-ben-Braham, who fired a 

 ball down her throat as she rushed to the charge. He was 

 seized by the shoulder and thrown down, his right hand 

 ground to pieces, and he was torn in many places, only 

 owing his rescue to the death of the lioness, that expired on 

 his body. Ali-ben-Braham lived, but was crippled by the 

 encounter, and Mecaoud died twenty-four hours after. 



At the age of from four to five months the lions' whelps 

 follow their mother during the night to the edge of the 

 woods, where they wait for the lion to bring them their 

 dinner. 



At the age of six months, and during a dark night, the 

 whole family change their domicil ; and from this moment 

 up to the time they leave their parents, the young lions 

 constantly follow the old ones in pursuit of prey. From 

 eight months to one year old they commence to attack 

 the flocks of sheep or goats, that may be found wandering in 

 the vicinity of their retreat. Sometimes they try their hand 

 at catching horned cattle, but they are yet so awkward that 

 there are often ten wounded for one killed, and their father is 

 obliged to come in and interfere, lest they go supperless 

 to bed. 



It is not until they are two years old that they know how 



