A LION HUNT IN THE VALLEY OF OURTEN. 389 



paws laid his head down on them like on a pillow. 

 Without paying any attention to the kid, paralyzed by fear, 

 he examined me from head to foot with the greatest interest, 

 at times winking his eyes with a benignant expression, and 

 then suddenly opening them to their fullest extent, giving his 

 physiognomy an air of sternness that made me involuntarily 

 raise my rifle. 



He looked as if he was talking to himself, and this is what 

 he seemed to say : 



"I saw a group of men in this place a few moments ago 

 leading a kid by a string, and I came over the gully to see 

 what they were at. Now I find they have all gone except 

 one droll fellow all red and blue, the like of which I never 

 saw before, and instead of running away like the men do 

 generally, he sits still as if he wanted to say something." 



Then at intervals, as the twilight descended more and more 

 in the woods, he seemed to add, still speaking to himself: 



" It is about my dinner time ; which shall I take, this red 

 man or the kid? The sheep I had yesterday was much 

 better than any kid can be, but then it's so far to go to get 

 any mutton. Men are good in general when they are fat, 

 but this red one is rather lean." 



This last reflection seemed to decide the question ; for he 

 immediately arose to his feet, and fixing his eyes on the kid, 

 took two or three steps in advance. 



With my rifle barrel following all his movements, I watched 

 the turning of events, ready to fire at the best moment. 



Twice he prepared to bound on the kid crouching down 

 like a cat, and yet he restlessly raised himself and gazed 

 again in a thoughtful manner. 



I saw that the cord that confined the goat troubled him, 

 and that he suspected a trap. He then walked back and 

 forward on the edge of the ravine, showing signs of annoy- 

 ance, and when he came opposite to me, he bared his teeth in 



