2 56 THE LION KILLER. 



self as food to the lion, since he has not father nor mother, 

 nor wife nor children ; but you, you shall not go. 



" Therefore, because he is childless he ought to revenge me 

 the loss of my beautiful mare ?" 



" Oh ! this beautiful mare," cried several shrill voices at 

 once, " oh ! you ought to be revenged for its loss, since you 

 loved it more than us or your children, and since you lost 

 your head when you lost your horse." 



"Will you hold your tongues, you dogs- of wives, and let 

 me have my gun and go ?" 



" Go — go then," shrieked the women in a chorus, " and I 

 hope the lion will claw you well for it !" 



The sound of half a dozen heavy blows followed this 

 Christian wish on the part of the ladies, and it appeared that 

 the correction was more efficacious than words, for in a 

 moment the injured husband appeared with his gun in one 

 hand and a big stick in the other. Nothing more was seen 

 of the ladies, although until we left the tent we heard nothing 

 but sobs and moans from the canvas Eden. 



One hour after we were in the forest, and as the night 

 came on apace, had taken our position by the side of a path, 

 when a distant roll of thunder, that needed no interpretation, 

 came to our ears. 



" It is at Bou-Sousa," said Bou-Aziz, " the very country we 

 came from yesterday." 



It was two good hours' walk from where we were to where 

 the lion was roaring, yet I said to my companions that I 

 would go there, either with them or alone. They to]d me 

 there were two rivers to cross ; I said they would have nothing 

 to wet but their shirts, and so we set off at a fast walk. 



On arriving at the first gulley, my guides offered their 

 services to pull off my boots and pantaloons, but I answered 

 their offer by walking through the water which in the deepest 

 place came up to my armpits. While wading I heard one 

 of the men say to the other, 



