252 THE LION KILLER. 



I did not look to see, as she often played me that trick, and 

 I only had to wasli her over again. 



" I had finished my prayers, and was going up the bank, 

 when a heavy footfall sounded above me, and I looked and 

 beheld what makes my blood run cold merely in thinking of 

 it. I beheld a lion looking down at me with a smile on his 

 countenance. 



" ' My mare, my mare !' I cried, throwing the water in his 

 face, ' where is my beau tiful, my love V 



" He answered not, but mockingly stretched himself out on 

 the grass and looked down at me. 



" I became mad with grief, and threw stones at him, but he 

 did not move, and then I saw my beautiful one stretched out 

 on the ground where I had left her, and all around the grass 

 was wet with her blood. 



" I moved to go near her, but the lion bounded in front of 

 me, roaring like the thunder in the heavens. 



" I sprang back into the brook and plunged into the deep- 

 est water. When I came again to the sunlight, the lion was 

 standing at the brink, lapping the water and keeping his 

 great eyes fixed on me. 



" ' May the water you drink poison you,' I cried, ' you dog, 

 you pagan ; may you die before you gorge yourself on my 

 beautiful one.' 



" The lion paid no attention to me, he didn't even move 

 when I walked out of the brook, and as far as I could see 

 him while running home, he stood there drinking as calmly 

 at though he was not a thief, and a. fiend. 



" This monster has a stomach like the sea, a stomach that 

 drinks up our rivers and consumes all our substance, and is 

 ever empty. 



" Thou seest, oh heaven-sent-stranger, that I am wronged, 

 and that I am right in coming to thee — render me justice." 



" Chera Allah! Chera Allah!" repeated all the com- 

 panions of the speaker, still seated in their circle, " we have no 



