SIS THE LION KILLER. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



THE HISTORY OF A FOUNDLING. 



One day in the month of February, 1846, Monsieur de 

 Tourville, who was in commaud in the Guelma district, sent 

 me word that the tribe of Beni-Foughal had prayed that I 

 might be sent to their aid, to deliver them from a lioness and 

 her cubs that had installed themselves, without any per- 

 mission, in their country. 



In one hour I was on horseback by the side of a Sheik of 

 their tribe, and at sunset we reached his douar, that was situ- 

 ated at the foot of Mount Jebel-Meziour. 



The next morning, with early light, I began to beat up the 

 low woods, where it was said the lioness kept her little ones. 

 Here I found the lair of the mother, and a beautiful little cub, 

 about as large as Angora cat, nestled in a bed of dry leaves, 

 carefully arranged beneath the shelter of a thicket of low 

 limbed trees. 



I picked up the little nursling, and carried it down to 

 the douar, and after leaving it in charge of the women, 

 went back to await the lioness when she should return 

 home. 



When I again reached the lion's retreat, the sun had set, 

 and as I entered beneath the close vault of matted vines that 

 covered the dry leaf-bed, I discovered that I could not see a 

 yard to the right hand or to the left. By the aid of my 



