The lion was too excited and famished to remain long undecided. After
more backward steps, which he made as if gaining time for reflection,
he suddenly advanced in a sidelong direction in order to charge upon
his adversary.

[Illustration: "THE BEAST GAVE A MIGHTY SPRING."]

The Sicilian did not move, but followed with his fixed gaze the motions
of the lion. Greatly irritated, the beast gave a mighty spring,
uttering a terrible roar; the man, at the same moment, leaped aside,
and the lion had barely touched the ground, when the club came down
upon his head with a dull, shocking thud. The king of the desert rolled
heavily under the stroke, and fell headlong, stunned and senseless, but
not dead.

The spectators, overcome with admiration, and awed at the exhibition of
so much calmness, address and strength, were hushed into profound
silence. The next moment, the Bey arose, and, with a gesture of his
hand, asked mercy for his favorite lion.

"A thousand ducats the more if you will not kill him!" he cried to the
Sicilian. "Agreed!" was the instant reply.

The lion lay panting on the ground. The Hercules bowed at the word of
the Bey, and slowly withdrew, still keeping his eyes on the conquered
brute. The two thousand ducats were counted out and paid. The lion
shortly recovered.

With a universal gasp of relief, followed by deafening shouts and