WHEN THE CAT r S AWAY THE MICE WILL PLAY. 403 



CHAPTER XXXY. 



WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY THE MICE WILL PLAY. 



On my arrival at Constantine, I was saluted on every side 

 by complaints concerning the Leonine family, that had most 

 assuredly lost none of its bad reputation during the year that 

 had passed. 



The following is a summary of their evil deeds that were 

 narrated to me, as having been done in my absence. 



I pass over the pecuniary losses that the tribes of the dis- 

 trict had endured, and give only those graver sufferings of 

 the human family, that were well known in the province. 



In the beginning of the winter, a merchant of Tunis came 

 down to trade with the people of the lower provinces accord- 

 ing to his custom, bringing with him his wife to assist him in 

 his negotiations. He had reached a place called Tifech, in 

 the territory of Saderata, and while passing through a defile 

 near the ancient Roman town of Memissa, his wife lingered 

 behind while he drove on his mules ladened with goods. On 

 reaching the other end of the pass, he missed his wife, and 

 turned back to search for her, when he suddenly came upon 

 a lion lying by the roadside, quietly making his supper on 

 the body of the poor. woman. The animal paid no attention 

 to the man, for he could get men any day he wanted them, 

 and the merchant ran off to relate his horrible story at a 

 neighboring douar. 



He tried hard to get the men to come with him to rescue 



