346 THE LION KILLER. 



stepped back a few paces to reload my rifle, then seeing the 

 animal was still living, I walked up to kirn with my poniard, 

 intending to finish him with a blow. 



At this instant he raised his enormous head, and made a 

 sweep with his paw. I sprang back in time to avoid the 

 blow, and fired the death shot that laid him out motionless 

 on the sod. 



My first ball had entered an inch below the left eye, and 

 gone out at the back of the head, and yet had not killed him. 



While I was examining the grand beast, and meditating 

 on his fate, a moment before the greatest lord in all Algeria, 

 and now a moveless clod, I heard a great noise and shouting 

 behind me. It was Lakdar running through the woods like 

 a wild boar. 



" It is I, Lakdar," he cried, all breathless with the exertion 

 of pushing through the tangled bushes. " I was here — close 

 Vjy — listening — I heard all; he is dead — the infidel! the 

 ogre ! he is dead — the scourge ! the devil !" 



Then he laughed, and then talked to himself as he tugged 

 through the underbrush, now scolding a thorn tree that 

 caught his burnous, now denouncing the lion that had 

 thinned his herds. Then he called his brother and his wife. 

 " Come quick — bring the dogs and the children — he is dead 

 — the slave ! — he is dead !" 



At last he came stumbling out to where I stood, saying, 

 " Thank you, brother, for what you have done for me to-day ; 

 hereafter I am yours, soul and body ; you can do with me 

 and all I have, whatever you please." 



" Look at that," I said, pointing to the lion, " is that your 

 old friend ?" . 



He seated himself in silence by the body, and examined it 

 for some time, with the greatest attention. 



Then he cried out, " Oh ! villian, all the evil you have done 

 me in your lifetime is as nothing, now that I can take you 



