298 THE LION KILLER. 



attack him openly. Every battle I commenced I was filled 

 with two very opposite feelings, doubt and confidence — doubt 

 as to the effect produced by my shot, and confidence as to 

 the protection that the Great God throws over all His 

 creatures. 



For a long time I thought of a comparison that would 

 convey to the mind the unequal antagonism that is waged 

 between a man and a lion ; the one armed with the best rifle 

 that can be made, and the other with his teeth and claws, 

 and that vital power that renders him so terrible to those that 

 attack him. 



I never found a better comparison than this. 



Suppose a duel to the knife should take place, without 

 witnesses, in the night, and in the open forest, between two 

 bitter foes, the one clothed in the lightest fighting costume, 

 the other armed cap a pie, with hauberk and greave, and yet 

 in spite of his heavy armor, perfectly free in all his movements 

 like the other. Place a sword in the hand of each gladiator, 

 and say to the first that perhaps he will not be killed if he 

 can touch with his sword two little points that are just dis- 

 cernible between his enemy's armor, and unprotected. Sup- 

 pose an equal amount of courage and coolness with each 

 combatant, and then, if the man in armor is killed, will you 

 not agree with me that the other was lucky ? 



Let this battle be renewed over and over again in other 

 places, and at other times, yet always under the same unequal 

 terms, the same defenceless champion always coming forth 

 from the valley of the shadow of death as the victor, and 

 then you will agree with me that it was not his strength that 

 gave the victory, but the strong right Arm which all invisibly 

 protected and guided him. 



I think I can hear you say with suspicious tone, " How 

 then do the Arabs ever kill the lion ?" 



The Arabs catch the lions in pits, or while they themselves 



