VEBNAAS AND HIS SON. 
209 
Afterwards, the extended jaws of the beast embrace 
the entire breadth of the man’s chest, on which its 
teeth leave four deep and bloody furrows. 
£s The youth had fled to a distance of a hundred 
paces. He could see his father lying on the ground 
under the lioness, and tremblingly awaited the 
terrible results which seemed in no wise doubtful. 
But presently the beast, whether owing to gene¬ 
rosity, or being merely desirous of inflicting on 
her assailant wound for wound, slowly, gravely, and 
frequently looking behind her, walked away from 
the victim. 
££ All this time Yernaas had lain motionless as if 
dead, but now that the brute had retreated, and his 
oppressed breast could dilate more freely, he arose, 
picked up his gun (the stock of which the lioness 
had deeply scored with her fangs), and rejoined his 
son. Then, reloading his piece, he retraced his 
steps to the cluster of reeds in which the beast had 
again taken refuge. 
££ £ It is the lioness, or I myself,’ said Yernaas to 
his son, £ that must die before the lapse of an hour, 
and that within two hundred paces of this spot.’ 
£ Yes, father, but how hard it is on me; for, were I 
provided with a gun, I could kill the wicked beast 
when it has thee in its clutches.I wish for a 
gun, father, dost thou comprehend?’ 6 Yes, son, 
the next time,’ rejoined Yernaas. 
££ They advanced together in silence, until they 
reached the edge of the reed-bed in question. 
£ Bemain here, my son,’ said the old man, who then 
boldly entered the clump alone. Listening atten- 
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