A young Arabian hunter had enticed a big mountain lion into one
of the strong-meshed nets of stout palm fibres, then used for
such purposes. His trained leopard or cheetah had drawn the beast
from his lair, and by cunning devices had led him on until the
unfortunate lion was half-entrapped. Just then, with a sudden
swoop, a great golden eagle dashed down upon the preoccupied
cheetah, and buried his talons in the leopard's head. But the
weight of his victim was more than he had bargained for; the
cheetah with a quick upward dash dislodged one of the great
bird's talons, and, turning as quickly, caught the disengaged leg
in his sharp teeth. At that instant the lion, springing at the
struggling pair, started the fastenings of the net, which,
falling upon the group, held all three prisoners. The eagle and
the lion thus ensnared sought to release themselves, but only
ensnared themselves the more, while the cunning cheetah, versed
in the knowledge of the hunter's net, crept out from beneath the
meshes as his master raised them slightly, and with bleeding head
crawled to him for praise and relief.

Then the girl, flushed with delight at this double capture,
galloped to the spot, and in that instant she recognized in the
successful hunter her cousin the exile.

"Well snared, my Odhainat," she said, as, the first exclamation
of surprise over, she stood beside the brown-faced and sturdy
young hunter. "The Palmyrean leopard hath bravely trapped both
the Roman eagle and the Persian lion. See, is it not an omen from
the gods? Face valor with valor and craft with craft, O Odhainat!
Have you forgotten the vow in your father's palace full three
years ago?"