AN EXCURSION IN THE MAHOUNA COUNTRY. 273 



dangerous to return as to advance. The occasion to win the 

 devotion of his wife for ever, was too tempting to Smail, 

 to allow it to pass. The guns were all loaded with ball, 

 the bride was placed in the middle of a hollow square 

 formed by the guests, brave men all, and the escort marched 

 on, led by the bridegroom. They came to within thirty 

 paces of the lion, and yet he had not moved. 



Smail ordered the party to halt, and then, saying to his 

 wife, "Judge if you have married a man or not," he 

 walked straight up to the wild beast, summoning him in a 

 loud voice to clear the road. 



At twenty paces, the lion raised his monstrous head, and 

 prepared to spring. 



Smail, in spite of the cries of his wife, and the entreaties of 

 his friends, who counselled a retreat, bent one knee to the 

 earth, took aim, and fired. 



The lion, wounded by the shot, sprang on the husband, 

 hurled him to the earth, and tore him in pieces in the twink- 

 ling of an eye, and then charged the group, in the middle of 

 which stood the bride. 



u Let no one fire," shouted the father of Smail, until he is 

 within gun's length." 



But where is the man who is strong enough at heart to 

 await, with a firm foot and steady hand, this thunderbolt" of 

 hell that is called a lion, when, with flowing mane, blazing 

 eye, and open mouth, he charges on him with immense 

 bounds ? All fired at once, without regarding- whither their 

 balls went, and the lion fell on the group, dashing them 

 hither and thither, breaking the bones and tearing the flesh 

 of all he found within, his reach. 



Nevertheless, some escaped, carrying with them the bride 

 half dead with terror. In a moment more, and the lion was 

 after them : there was no refuge and no defence, and the 

 wounded beast seized and tore to pieces one after the other, 



n* 



