A HUNT WITH THE ARAB LADIES. 399 



tlie ball that had entered on one side, had passed through and 

 broken the other shoulder, which accounted for her declining 

 any further combat after my first shot. 



The lioness, dead or alive, could not be a great way off, 

 and it was time to be wary, and not to track her in such a 

 manner as to get below her on the declivity of the hill, or to 

 come upon her too suddenly. For this reason, whenever we 

 came to a bush large enough to conceal the body of the ani- 

 mal, I made my spahi throw stones into it, to excite her to 

 come out, or cause her to make some noise, by which we 

 could judge of her locality. 



This plan succeeded perfectly. We had just crossed a lit- 

 tle glade where the lioness had lain for a long time, to 

 judge by the quantity of blood she had left, and from whence 

 the trail entered a very close thicket. My man threw a stone 

 into the bushes, and I heard that same fierce roar, half of pain, 

 half of menace, that I had heard twice before in my life. 

 Only in this instance, I knew that I was safe, for I had the 

 advantage -of the position, and broad daylight. 



Nevertheless, as the animal was still a lioness, and her 

 three paws were armed with immense claws, and as the teeth 

 that had so effectually strangled the cattle on the previous 

 day, were, doubtless, of respectable size, I took such measures 

 as I thought would insure myself from being treated like the 

 oxen. 



The jungle where she had taken refuge was so close, that 

 it would have been impossible for the hunter to have pene- 

 trated it, without coming directly upon the animal before see- 

 ing her, in which case she would certainly have seized the 

 intruder and torn him to pieces. 



But, fortunately, there was a clear open piece of ground bor- 

 dering the woods, and I resolved to draw her out from her 

 retreat, and meet her on even terms on the sylvan arena. 

 Accordingly, I sent one of the Arabs to the tents for some 



