MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN LION HUNTING. 251 



we returned to the tent where we had left our horses, 

 and for the first time I saw symptoms of respect from the 

 natives. The host, seeing that I desired to sleep, closed his 

 tent, and sent away all his family that I might not be dis- 

 turbed. 



I had hoped to have won this consideration only by the 

 merit of success, but since they all attributed the absence of 

 the lion to some innate power of mine, I began myself to 

 believe, not in my power to frighten away the animal, but in 

 the protection of an invisible hand, without whose sustaining 

 power we can achieve but little in situations of mortal 

 danger. 



When my eyes first opened in the tent of my host, after 

 a long and refreshing sleep, I saw around me a circle of Arabs 

 seated in silence on the ground, awaiting my awakening, 

 They had entered so softly, and sat so quietly, that I had not 

 even been aware of their presence. When I had risen to a 

 sitting posture, one of them came towards me, and with an 

 air of sadness, cried out : 



" Chera Allah ! Cher a Allah ! the justice of God ! the 

 justice of God !" and thirty voices from the circle responded 

 in the same wild tone, " Chera Allah ! Chera Allah /" 



" What's the matter ? explain !" I called out, confused by 

 the novel spectacle, and the wild cries of my visitors. They 

 all hushed in a moment, and the one who had arisen, spoke 

 as follows : 



" In the name of Allah, listen to what I have to tell thee, 

 and grant me justice if I have the right on my side. 



" I had a beautiful mare that my people had offered to buy 

 of me for ten camels ; would I sell my mare whom I loved 

 as the pupils of my eyes ? 



" Yesterday, after dinner, I rode her to trie brook to give 

 her a bath, and then I led her to the edge of the woods, 

 while I returned to make my ablutions and say my prayers. 

 While in the water, I thought I heard my mare rolling, but 



