242 
THE LION. 
“ It is one of the many cases in which 
the boldest course is the best,” said Miss 
Winston. “I think the woman showed 
considerable strength, too; for if she had 
screamed and tried to run, as most people 
would have done, it would have been all 
over with her.” 
“Yes, she showed good spunk,” said 
Sidney, approvingly. 
“Aunt,” asked Annie, “ don’t you think 
all these stories serve to show that the lion 
is not so ferocious as many other beasts of 
prey? It seems as if he never killed any 
thing unless when he wanted to eat it.” 
“I am inclined to think you are right, 
Annie; but perhaps some of this apparent 
magnanimity may be set down to the ac¬ 
count of his laziness, for lazy he undeniably 
is, with all his strength,—which seems to ex¬ 
ceed that of any known animal. A man is 
no more in his jaws than a mouse in those of 
a cat. He is able to drag off a heavy ox; and 
any smaller animal gives him no trouble 
whatever. A lion, having carried oft" a 
young heifer, was followed by his tracks, for 
fully four hours, by a party on horseback; 
and through the whole distance the carcass of 
