272 THE LION KILLER. 



His retinue was confined to his near relatives, and on the aus- 

 picious day, he came on foot to the tent of his future father- 

 in-law, like a very peasant. 



Here the brave couple, and their friends, feasted on mutton 

 and couscoussou, and when the repast was done, they fired 

 away with powder and ball, taking care to reserve enough to 

 use, in case of need, on their way home. They did not take 

 the precaution to sign the marriage contract, for not one of 

 the party could write even his own name, and the evening 

 coming on, they separated with mutual good fellowship, and 

 well wishes for the future. 



The douar of the husband was only a lengue and a half 

 away ; it was a bright moonlight evening, and the party num- 

 bered nine guns — what was there to make them afraid ? But 

 is it not when the tent is the gayest, that trouble draws the 

 curtain and steps in at the door 



Truly, the good people were gay, and as they returned, in 

 merry mood, they sang as they frolicked over the sand ' 



Allez-vous-en, gens de la noce, 

 Allez-vous-en, chacun chez vous. 



Smail walked at the head of the procession, with his dark- 

 eyed wife, and his head was bent, and his voice was low, 

 whispering soft promises of the pleasures that were awaiting 

 them under his tent. His friends were behind, discreetly loi- 

 tering at a little distance, and from time to time, their guns 

 awoke the echoes among the distant hills. All went merry as 

 a marriage-bell. 



But on a sudden, the devil, who had not been bidden to the 

 wedding, presented himself before them, in the shape of an 

 enormous lion, and crouched down in the very path of the 

 procession. 



What was to be done ? 



They were half between the two douars, and it was equally 



