248 
THE LION. 
where he finally fell asleep. When he 
opened his eyes he gave himself up for lost; 
for a large lion was sitting before him and 
earnestly regarding him. He was, how¬ 
ever, a resolute man; and, as he gathered 
his senses together, he perceived that the 
lion did not seem disposed to attack him, 
but moaned and held up one of his paws, as 
though in great pain. Despair gave him cou¬ 
rage : he took the lion’s foot in his lap; and, 
after a short examination, he found that a 
thorn had penetrated the ball, causing great 
pain and inflammation. He extracted it and 
bound up the foot with moist leaves, much 
to the joy of the poor animal, which signi¬ 
fied his delight by fawning upon and caress¬ 
ing his benefactor. Androcles remained 
in the cave a long time, subsisting upon 
wild fruits and the game which the lion 
brought him. At last, in some of his 
wanderings, he was seized by a band of sol¬ 
diers and carried back to the city, where, 
after a long confinement, he was sentenced 
to be devoured by wild beasts for the 
amusement of the populace. He was fas¬ 
tened to a stake in the centre of the area, 
and a very large and fierce lion, lately 
