then to terrify him still more he redoubles the performabove described. He approaches his victim.

ances

iar liking for the flesh of the Hottentots, and it is surprising with what obstinacy he will follow one of these unfortunate savages. A Hottentot, who endeavored to drive his master's cattle into a pool of water inclosed between two ridges of rocks, espied a huge lion crouching in the midst of the pool. Terrified at the unexpected sight of such a beast, that seemed to have his eyes fixed upon him, he instantly took to his heels. In doing this he had presence of mind enough to run through the herd, concluding that if the lion should pursue he would take the first beast that presented itself.

9. In this, however, he was mistaken. The lion broke through the herd, making directly for the Hottentot, who, on turning round and perceiving that the monster had singled him out, breathless and half dead with fear, scrambled up one of the tree aloes, in the trunk of which a few steps had luckily been cut out to reach some birds' nests on the branches. At the same moment the lion made a spring at him, but, missing his aim, fell upon the ground. In surly silence he walked round the tree, casting at times a dreadful look toward the poor Hottentot, who screened himself from his sight behind the branches.

10. Having remained silent and motionless for a long

time, he at length ventured to peep, hoping that the lion had taken his departure, when, to his great terror and astonishment, his eyes met those of the animal, which, as the poor fellow afterward

expressed himself, flashed

fire at him. In short, the lion laid himself down at the foot of the tree, and did not move from the place for twenty-four hours. At the end of this time, becoming

parched with thirst, he went to a spring at some distance in order to drink. The Hottentot now with great fear ventured to descend, and scampered off home as fast as his feet could carry him.

CHAPTER IV.

THE SULTANA OF THE DESERT.

1. NEAR the close of the last century, while the French army under Bonaparte occupied Egypt, a soldier belonging to the division of Desaix was captured by the Arabs and carried away. In order to put a safe distance between themselves and the French, the Arabs made a forced march through the desert, and at night encamped by a fountain surrounded by palm-trees.

2. Here they bound the hands of their prisoner, fed their horses, made a supper of dates, and all went to sleep. As soon as the Frenchman saw that he was not watched, he unloosed the knot which bound him with his teeth and regained his liberty. He seized a carbine, some dried

dates, and a little bag of grain, and armed with a cimeter he mounted a horse and started off in the direction of the French army.

3. He rode all night and far into the next day, when his weary horse fell down dead and left him alone in the midst of the desert. For a long time he walked on; but at length his strength gave out, and he was obliged to stop. The day was finished; the Oriental night was full

of freshness and beauty. At a little distance he discov ered a cluster of palms. To these he dragged his weary limbs, and lay down and slept.

4. He was awakened by the pitiless rays of the sun. The prospect around him filled him with despair. In every direction nothing met his eye but a wide ocean of sand sparkling and glancing in the sunshine. The pure brilliancy of the sky left nothing for the imagination to conceive. Not a cloud obscured its splendor; not a zephyr moved the face of the desert. There was a wild and awful majesty in the universal stillness. God in all his infinite majesty seemed present to the soul.

5. Sad and gloomy the desolate wanderer walked around the little eminence on which the palm-trees grew. To his great joy he discovered on the opposite side a sort of natural grotto, formed in a ledge of granite. Hope was awakened in his breast. Here he might rest in safety. The palms would furnish him with dates for food, and human beings might come that way before they were exhausted.

6. He occupied himself during the day with arranging defenses for the mouth of the grotto, so that he would not be molested by wild beasts, which would probably come in the night-time to drink at the little spring bubbling up at the foot of the palms. Before his fortifications were finished, night came on, and, wearied by his exertions and the extreme heat of the day, he crawled into the grotto and soon fell into a profound sleep.

7. In the night he was awakened by a sudden noise. He started up and listened, and in the deep silence he could hear the loud breathings of some animal. The hair rose upon his head, and he strained his eyes to the utmost to perceive the object of his terror. By the rays of the moon that entered the chinks of the cave, he discovered

an enormous animal lying but a few feet away. There was not sufficient light to distinguish what animal it was. It might be a lion, a tiger, a crocodile; but there was no doubt of the presence of some large and terrible creature.

8. When the moon rose so as to shine directly into the grotto, its beams lighted up the beautiful spotted hide of a huge panther. This lion of Egypt slept with her head upon her paws with the comfortable dignity of a great house-dog. The soldier dared not make the slightest noise lest he should awaken her. Nothing broke the deep silence but the breath of the panther and the strong beatings of his own heart.

9. To attempt her destruction and fail, would be certain death. She was too near to use his carbine. Twice he put his hand upon his cimeter; but the thought of her hard rough skin made him relinquish his project. Day came at last, and showed the jaws of the sleeping panther covered with blood. "She has eaten lately," said the Frenchman to himself; "she will not awake in hunger."

The fur

10. She was in truth a beautiful monster. on her throat and legs was a delicate buff; a circle of dark spots like velvet formed bracelets around her paws; her large, muscular tail was buff with rings of black; and the soft, smooth fur of her body was of a glowing yellow, like unwrought gold, richly shaded with dark-brown and black spots. She reposed in the graceful attitude of a puss sleeping on a footstool. Her head rested on her outstretched paws, and her smellers spread out like silver threads.

11. When the sun arose, the panther suddenly opened her eyes, stretched out her paws, and gaped, showing a frightful row of teeth and a great tongue as hard and rough as a file. She then began to wash her paws, pass