114 THE LION KILLER. 



posted myself on it to pass the night there, and follow the 

 roaring of the lion that I was hunting. 



In the evening, at the moment the sun disappeared under 

 the horizon, I perceived a troop of gazels walking in single 

 file towards the abode which I had remarked. I counted 

 them ; there were six, with only one male at the head of the 

 column. The chief of the little seraglio walked directly to 

 the lairs of which I had spoken, scratched the ground two or 

 three times, knelt, and then laid down to sleep. A moment 

 after, and all the flock were reposing quietly around their 

 miniature chief. 



I watched until night without their leaving their beds, 

 and when the first rays of the morning allowed me to see 

 them, they were still there. 



It was not until I arose to return to my tent, that the 

 male awoke those around by striking his foot on the ground, 

 and the females arose, yawning and stretching themselves like 

 sleepy girls disturbed in their slumbers, and then they all 

 marched off to their dew-covered feeding grounds. 



Not wanting to disturb the poor beasts, I withdrew in the 

 opposite direction, and could see them for a long time, stand- 

 ing on the points of the rocks, or winding down the moun- 

 tain-paths. 



This peculiarity which I had never observed before, clear- 

 ly showed me that the gazel slept during the night, for fear 

 of meeting dangerous animals ; and what proves that there is 

 no other reason for the habit, is that their abodes, instead of 

 being hidden liko other animals, arc always found on high 



