120 
THE TAME PANTHER. 
he had bitten off their heads, as the ocelot 
did the little French girl’s ? I don’t believe 
aunt would let me play with a panther if he 
was ever so tame !” 
“No, my child: I would prefer you should 
have some other playfellow, even if the 
panther were as good-natured as our friend 
Lai, who seems to have been the most 
amiable of animals. ‘One morning he 
missed the governor, who was settling a 
dispute in the hall, and who, being sur¬ 
rounded by black people, was hidden from 
the view of his favourite. Lai wandered 
with a dejected look to various parts of the 
fortress in search of him; and while absent 
on this errand the audience ceased, the go¬ 
vernor returned to his room, and seated him¬ 
self at a table to write. Presently he heard 
a heavy step coming up-stairs, and, raising 
his eyes to the open door, beheld Lai! At 
that moment he gave himself up for lost, 
for Lai immediately sprung from the door on 
his neck. Instead, however, of devouring 
him, he laid his head close to the governor’s, 
rubbed his cheek upon his shoulder, wagged 
his tail, and tried to evince his happiness. 
Occasionally, however, the panther caused 
