sport. But this work on foot is too dangerous, and has cost the
republic the loss of five soldiers. Had I had nets with me I would
have adopted the usual plan of stretching one across the trees ten
paces in front of us. This breaks the lion's spring, he becomes
entangled in its meshes, and can be destroyed with but little
danger. But no skill or address avails against the charge of a
wounded lion. But you are wounded, Giscon."

"It is a mere nothing," Giscon said.

"Nay," Hamilcar replied, "it is an ugly scratch, Giscon; he has
laid open your arm from the shoulder to the elbow as if it were
by the cut of a knife."

"It served me right for being too rash," Giscon said. "I thought
he was nearly dead, and approached with my sword to give him
a finishing thrust. When he struck viciously at me I sprang back,
but one of his claws caught my shoulder. A few inches nearer and
he would have stripped the flesh from my arm, and perhaps broken
the limb and shoulder bone."

While he was speaking a slave was washing the wound, which he then
carefully bandaged up. A few minutes later the whole party lay
down to sleep. Malchus found it difficult to dose his eyes. His
pulse was still throbbing with excitement, and his mind was busy
with the brief but stirring scene of the conflict.

Two or three hours passed, and he felt drowsiness creeping over
him, when he heard a sudden challenge, followed instantly by a
loud and piercing yell from hundreds of throats. He sprang in an