200 THE LIOX KILLER. 



bold assertion, I resumed my seat on the rampart, and medi- 

 tated on the wild intention I had conceived. 



I cannot explain how, although passionately fond of the 

 chase, I had forgotten there was such an animal as the lion 

 in Africa, and was about to quit the country that offered to 

 me such a pleasant future. I remembered the strength and 

 prowess of the beast, and the respectful titles by which the 

 Arabs were always accustomed to speak of him. 



My heart leaped with joy in thinking that soon this all- 

 powerful Seignor, the terror of the country, might bite the 

 dust under the ball of a Christian dog, and I enjoyed in 

 anticipation, the triumph of the feeble over the strong, and 

 the power that would turn the Arab scorn and hatred into 

 love and admiration. 



As if to make me understand that my pride was carrying 

 me too fast and too far, at this moment the roar of the lion 

 again saluted my ear, and its muttering thunder seemed 

 more formidable than ever. 



I listened to his deep unparalleled voice, and to the echoes, 

 repeated from hill to hill, in the dark distance, and when 

 it ceased I shivered from head to foot. 



I had never seen the lion in his native freedom, but his 

 voice told me that he who was thus endowed, and could, 

 without exertion, make himself be heard in the volleying 

 tones to which I had just listened, must be immensely great, 

 and would regard a man as a right puny creature. 



Without knowing how the animal could be attacked, I well 

 understood that the task was a difficult one, and having again 

 listened to his voice, I had to recall to my mind the promise 



