THE HYENA. 89 



I immediately dismounted, and tying my horse to a tree, 

 endeavored to see what means were in my reach to bring the 

 enemy to terms. I found the cave where he had taken refuge 

 was an old quarry, and that it was so high that I could enter 

 it in a stooping posture. This I immediately proceeded to 

 do, and in two minutes I was in the presence of the animal, 

 and so near to him that he seized the point of my sabre in 

 his teeth, yet the hole was so dark that I could not see at all. 

 I closed my eyes for a moment to recover my vision, and then 

 on opening them I saw the beast sufficiently well to strike 

 him. 



I had some little difficulty in drawing my sword from his 

 mouth, but when this was once accomplished, I plunged it 

 to the hilt in his breast. A guttural hoarse growl was the 

 only answer, and drawing out my steel all hot and reeking, 

 the animal fell dead. I was about pulling him out by the 

 leg when I heard voices of my companions outside, who had 

 come up together with several harvesters who were at work 

 near by, and had seen me charging after the hyena. 



When my guide saw my sword dripping with the blood of 

 the animal, he exclaimed, "Thank heaven that I lingered 

 behind with your rifle, and don't use your sword ever again 

 in battle, for it will betray you." 



As I did not appear to comprehend the sense of these 

 words, he added : " When an Arab finds a hyena in his hole 

 he takes a handful of cow dung, and holding it out to him, he 

 says, ' Come here, I will make you beautiful with henna.'* The 



* The Arabs have the habit of dyeing their own nails, and those of their wives, and 

 also the mane, tail, withers and legs of their horses, with the red-colored henna. 



