248 THE LION KILLER. 



forest, and gave a certain twilight air that well befitted the 

 kingly retreat, and called forth respect and awe from the 

 visitors. 



Up to the time of reaching these olive trees, I had been 

 closely followed by all my valorous comrades, but the 

 moment I approached the precincts of the Garden, they fell 

 back and let me precede them, awaiting my return at a safe 

 distance behind. Three of the number, however, preferred 

 the railleries of their comrades to the anger of the lion, and 

 had long since gone home, and the countenances of those 

 that were left, became ludicrously long and grave. 



As I advanced, step by step, with difficulty under this 

 obscure arbor, where the verdure above shut out all sunlight, 

 and the soil beneath my feet was impressed with the tread of 

 the lion, my heart beat louder and stronger. 



At every step I was pulled by the arm, or by the skirts of 

 my coat, by those behind me, and beseeched by trembling 

 voices, praying me to go slowly, and to be cautious ; and when 

 I turned my head I saw my Arabs' faces absolutely pale with 

 fear, in spite of their dingy skin. I would willingly have 

 sent them all to the devil, if by that means I could have been 

 free from their importunities, and I took the first opportunity 

 of telling them to wait in a little opening we crossed, till my 

 return. 



The grass in this little glade was marked in many places 

 by the beds the lion had lately made. It was here that 

 when he awoke, with the coming of evening, he came forth 

 to make his toilet, like a cat, and to embellish his face and 

 comb his moustache, previous to descending the hills to visit 

 the douars on the plains, and from here he announced his 

 coming by his first low muttered roar. 



It was with a good deal of difficulty that I persuaded the 

 Arabs to remain in this place while I was gone, and it was only 

 their sensitive fear of ridicule that prevented their beating a 

 precipitate retreat. Bou-Aziz having insisted so hard on accom- 



