scattered in various directions; but although they rode far over
the plain, they could see no signs of the troop they had pursued.

After a time they gave up the pursuit and rode back towards the
camp. When they reached it they found that another troop of lions,
eight in number, had approached the other grove, where two had been
killed by the party commanded by Adherbal and Giscon, and the rest
of the cavalry were still in pursuit of the others. They presently
returned, bringing in four more skins; so that eight lions in all
had fallen in the night's work.

"Well, Malchus, what do you think of lion hunting?" Adherbal asked
as they gathered again in the general's tent.

"They are terrible beasts," Malchus said. "I had not thought that
any beast could make so tremendous a roar. Of course I have heard
those in captivity in Carthage, but it did not seem nearly so
terrible as it sounded here in the stillness of the desert."

"I own that it made my blood run cold," Adherbal said; "and their
charge is tremendous -- they broke through the hedge of spears as
if they had been reeds. Three of our men were killed."

"Yes," Malchus agreed; "it seemed almost like a dream for a minute
when the great beast was among us. I felt very glad when he rolled
over on to his side."

"It is a dangerous way of hunting," Hamilcar said. "The chase
on horseback in the plains has its dangers, as we saw when that
Numidian was killed; but with proper care and skill it is a grand