120 THE LION KILLER. 



They find some quills which show the presence of the 

 porcupine, numerous and lately made traces, also indicate his 

 general place of exit and entrance. 



There 'is no longer any doubt of this hole being inhabited. 

 The dogs being let loose, rush into the crevice, and, at the 

 first sound of their voice, the hunters answer by a joyous 

 hurrah, and arrange the implements which are to serve in 

 the siege. 



When all is ready to open the trenches, the biped is sought 

 who fulfills the duties of a terrier, in order to reconnoitre 

 the cave, but it is in vain ; he has disappeared with his lance, 

 and they awaken the surrounding echoes by calling, with the 

 most tender names, for the invisible one, on whom repose 

 the honor of the club, and the fate of the expedition. While 

 the hunters are sorrowing, believing him to be lost, the dogs 

 oome out of the burrow, with bristling hair ; then, behind 

 the dogs soon appears a foot, then a leg and, in a short time, 

 the body and head of the child, who throws in the midst of 

 his companions a porcupine almost as large as himself, and 

 alive, though pierced by the iron lance, in which he has 

 fastened his sharp teeth, as if he would tear it in pieces. 

 The animal having been killed by one thrust of the knife in 

 his throat, his stomach is opened in order to take out the 

 intestines, and replace them with aromatic plants, mingled 

 with a handful of salt. This operation is to keep the body 

 until the end of the expedition, so as to let it figure on the 

 table of the club at Constantine. But it is seldom matters 

 succeed so well, and it is not generally until after several 

 days' siege and hard work, that the animal is taken x if taken 



