THE LION. 
241 
the window of the chamber, where I knew 
my loaded gnn was standing. By a most 
happy chance, I had set it into the corner 
close by the window, so that I could reach 
it with my hand, for, as you may perceive, 
the opening is quite too small for me to 
have got in; and, still more fortunately, the 
door of the room was open, so that I could 
see the w T hole danger of the scene. The 
lion was beginning to move, perhaps with 
the intention of making a spring. There 
was no longer any time to think. I called 
softly to the mother not to be alarmed, and, 
invoking the name of the Lord, fired my 
piece. The hall passed directly over the 
hair of my little boy’s head and lodged in 
the forehead of the lion, immediately above 
his eyes, which shot forth as it were sparks 
of fire, and stretched him on the ground, 
so that he never stirred more.” ’ ” 
The children drew a long breath as they 
heard the conclusion. “He was a bold fel¬ 
low, as well as a cool one,” observed Rich¬ 
ard. “If the little fellow had stirred, the 
father would have shot him instead of the 
lion; and yet I don’t see what else he could 
have done.” 
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