236 
THE LION. 
the ox, the lion had watched him to the fire¬ 
side, and he had hardly lain down when 
the brute sprang upon him and Ruyter, (for 
both lay under one blanket,) and, roaring as 
he lay, grappled him with his fearful claws, 
and kept biting him mi the breast and 
shoulder, all the time feeling for his neck, 
which having got hold of, he at once dragged 
him away backwards round the bush into 
the dense shade. As the lion lay on the 
unfortunate man he cried, faintly, “ Help me! 
oh, men, help me!” after which the fearful 
beast got hold of his neck, and then all was 
still.’ ” 
“ What a horrid story!” exclaimed Annie, 
shuddering. “I do hope you are satisfied, 
Sidney?” 
“I think it was too bad!” said Daisy, 
half crying. “They might 4 have helped 
him.” 
“How could they?” asked Richard. 
“They did every thing that was possible. 
You heard how one of them struck him 
over the head with the burning brands, 
which one would think might have made 
him let go if any thing would, for all wild 
animals are afraid of fire. But I did not 
