A NIGHT WITH THE ARABS. 421 



"The poor cub took his way home half dead with 

 shame and pain, and limping* like a rabbit. The mother 

 was out watching for the return of her hopeful, and when she 

 saw him coming in this wretched plight, she roared with 

 horror and indignation, and bitterly reproached her child for 

 his folly. She then led him in, and having lain him down, •« 

 on her best bed, she licked his wounds and administered to 

 him all the care that art and love could suggest. 



" ' Ah !' said she, in mournful accents, ' I told you so, you 

 have found the seed of the woman.' 



" The young lion then told over all his adventures. The 

 mother said , ' Do you remain here quietly, I will summon all 

 the lions of the mountain, and leading them myself, I will 

 revenge your insults, my poor child.' And great tears of 

 sympathy and anger rolled down her hairy cheeks while 

 speaking. She then went out and roused all the forces of 

 the mountain, and presently with the rising sun, they came 

 trooping past like kings. Pointing out the formidable 

 squadron to her own, she said ; ' Do you think they can 

 revenge you ?' 



" ' Yes, certainly ; but I would rather do it myself.' 



" * Rise, and march with us then,' said the proud mother, 

 and the young lion rose and led the van. 



"This terrible band then started for the forest by the 

 purling brook. As it came, terrified nature fled away. The 

 wood chopper seeing its approach, cried out : 



" ' I am a poor sinner — this day will I see the prophet.' 

 Then recovering himself a little, he hugged a big tree, and 

 scrambled up to the top. 



" The leonine army came to the foot of the tree, but, alas ! 

 their enemy was at the top and they at the bottom, and there 

 was no manoeuvre in their system of warfare adapted for such 

 a position. They held a council of war. The young lion was 

 among the speakers, and proposed the following plan : 



