ARAB FASHION OF HUNTING THE LION. 51 



his father, at his very side, and yet could not save him. The 

 lion's eye is fearful, my boy, when he is charging ; a man's 

 becomes dim in looking at him ; his heart beats, and his hand 

 trembles ; and the shot, even if sped with a true aim by the 

 trembling hand, may hit without killing, for the lion carries 

 off many balls." 



" But, father, why did you bring me here, if I am not to 

 burn a cartridge ? am I to return like a coward ?" 



" I let you come, because at first I did not know we had to 

 deal with two lions, which makes the affair doubly danger- 

 ous, and then again, because I knew you wanted to see the 

 lion killer, and I knew the tribe had taken up arms at his 

 request. Stand still, look there near you, do you see him 

 now, look your fill, and when you are done, and can describe 

 to the people of our camp how he looks, we will go homo 

 again." At the words " we will go home again," the boy 

 answered in a deliberate manner :— " You can go home if 

 you wish to, father ; as for me, I will stay, for if he sees me 

 going he will think I am afraid, and I want him to know 

 that I am a boy of the tribe of Cessi." 



The father finding his son immovable, tried a strange 

 argument. " Listen, you have been wanting a horse for a 

 long time, come with me and to-morrow you shall have it." 



" What good will the horse do me," cried the young man, 

 with pride, " if they should say when they see me pass, what 

 a pity that such a pretty animal should be ridden by such a 

 timid rider !" 



Being reduced to his last argument, the father said, " Come ! 



