374 THE LION KILLER. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



A NEW KIND OF LION'S BAIT VERY ATTRACTIVE, BUT 



DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN. 



It was in the montU of August, a warm month in Algeria, 

 that I heard there was a large old lion in the country of the 

 Smouls. 



I went immediately there, and learned on my arrival that 

 he had changed his quarters, and taken up his residence in 

 the mountain of Bou-Aziz near Batna. I had hardly pitched 

 my tent at the base of this mountain, before I discovered that 

 he had already quitted it, and the natives brought me word 

 he was ravaging their herds at Fedj-Louj, where on arriving, 

 I learned he had left the day previous for Aures. 



After having followed this interminable traveller a hundred 

 lengues, without ever seeing anything more of him than his 

 tracks, I at last heard him roaring in the valley of Ourten 

 about a league from Krenchela. 



Only one path led through this valley, and I immediately 

 found the tracks of my friend, and followed them to his lair. 

 Not finding the master at home, I returned in the evening 

 accompanied by a spahi and a native ; the one with my spare 

 rifle, and the other with my old carbine, and we posted our- 

 selves along the path that led to his retreat. 



As I had anticipated, with the setting of the sun the lion 

 commenced roaring, giving notice to all concerned that he 

 was going out for the night, but instead of coming towards 



