134 THE LION KILLER. 



" ' "What do you want with the knife V asked the man. 



" ' To cut off the head of the dog whom we have taken,' 

 answered the messenger. 



" The thought of cutting off a man's head was so pleasant 

 an anticipation as to beguile the villians from their search 

 after me, which relieved me from one of the most uncomfort- 

 able positions in which I have ever found myself placed. 



" From what I had heard, my cousin was doomed to lose 

 his head, and I could do nothing to rescue him. 



" Persuaded that the men who had just left would return 

 after the execution, and not being able, without leaving the 

 print of my steps, to seek another shelter, I resolved to remain 

 where I was. 



" A root I could reach in the bank above my head, enabled 

 me to raise myself for an instant, and take a position which 

 would save me from the danger of drowning. 



" After having heard the cries and noisy laughter caused 

 by the triple execution which was taking place behind me, it 

 seemed as if the horses were leaving the brook, and soon all 

 was quiet in the woods around me. 



" Time moved on with the waning day, and I kept my diffi- 

 cult position, until the sun sunk beneath the horizon. Pre- 

 sently the twilight mantled the woods, and the stars one by 

 one came out in the sky, and still all was hushed and no sound 

 came to my ear. 



"I drew myself softly out of my retreat and carefully 

 ascended the bank of the brook. 



" I listened, and looked around me ; nothing in sight, no 

 noise, except the croaking of frogs ; no living being, except 



