416 THE LION KILLER. 



to the body are very different from the ones that she gives 

 to the spirit, the one heals in a month, the other never.' 



" This axiom was spoken in a voice that made the tassels 

 on the pine tree quiver in the air. A woman's shriek rang 

 in the forest. The lion's love had gone to sleep for ever, and 

 his sensual appetite had awakened. Tongue may not speak 

 of what followed — prophet of God defend us ! 



" The next day the father of Aicha with all the stout men 

 of the douar hunted the woods for the fairest girl of the 

 Zerazer. 



" When they reached the place where lay the fagots they 

 found a white haik, a hatchet, and a scalp of long braided 

 hair, but never has man since that time seen or heard of 

 Aicha." 



After this legend was told, that may seem to ears polite 

 somewhat lugubrious, a moral and amusing fable was recited, 

 entitled, " The young lion and the wood cutter." 



The speaker in this instance, was one of the youngest of 

 our hosts, and never did blacker eyes flash from cowled head, 

 or more melodious voice ripple through snowy teeth. lie 

 laid aside his long chibouque, and with graceful gesture and 

 bearing commenced the tale that near as may be ran as 

 follows : 



" Among the Lords of Mount Aures there once lived and 

 loved a lioness who, though long wedded, and faithful withal, 

 had never yet become a mother. The event so devoutly 

 prayed for as well among lionesses as among wives of more 

 delicate frames, was at length realized, and one morning's sun, 

 as it poured upon the broad roof of the ceder and lotus, and 

 glinted down among grape vines and olives, at last played 

 upon and brightened one tawny cub that nestled in its warm 

 bed of leaves beneath. 



" A proud lady was the mother lioness as she purred over 



