MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN LION HUNTING. 201 



I had made to keep myself faithful to my resolution. When 

 I estimated in my mind all the chances, fortunate and unfor- 

 tunate, I thought the proposed attempt superhuman ; but again 

 thinking of the motives that influenced me, I considered that 

 my resolution was right before the Almighty, and then I felt 

 as if I could succeed even in the impossible. 



The next morliing, after having passed the whole night on 

 the ramparts, I communicated my projects to Rousselet, who 

 received them with enthusiasm, not because he desired to aid 

 me, for he was fully decided to leave the country, but because 

 he saw that the attempt was bold and hazardous, and because 

 he thought I could succeed in it. 



It is ten years since I have heard or seen anything of 

 Rousselet. I do not even know where he may be at the 

 present time, but I would be glad if these lines ever meet 

 his eye, that he should know that whenever I found myself 

 in a desperate position, where I had need of a sure hand and 

 bold heart, it was only of him that I thought. 



Without any further delay, I put myself in communication 

 with the spahis whose douars, situated on the Ouled-Meza, 

 were often visited by the lion. As my intention of freeing 

 them from their importunate guest did not appear to them 

 to be very serious, and they considered that one victim more 

 or less was not of much account, they readily proffered to 

 accompany me in a survey of the country frequented by the 

 animal. 



I found four or five douars established on the right bank 

 of the brook running through the plain, that belonged to the 

 spahis and their families. 



