front of us some sixty paces away. Looking, I saw a yellow shape
creeping along between their dark stems, and although the shot was
far, forgetting all things save I was a hunter and there was my game,
I drew the arrow to my ear, aimed and loosed, making allowance for its
fall and for the wind.

Oh! that shot was good. It struck the lion in the body and pierced him
through. Out he came, roaring, rolling, and tearing at the ground. But
by now I had another arrow on the string, and although the King lifted
his bow, I loosed first. Again it struck, this time in the throat, and
that lion groaned and died.

The King looked at me angrily, and from the court behind rose a murmur
of wonder mingled with wrath, wonder at my marksmanship, and wrath
because I had dared to shoot before the King.

"The wager looks well for us," muttered Bes, but I bade him be silent,
for more lions were stirring.

Now one leapt across the open space, passing in front of the King and
within thirty paces of us. He shot and missed it, sending his shaft
two spans above its back. Then I shot and drove the arrow through it
just where the head joins the neck, cutting the spine, so that it died
at once.

Again that murmur went up and the King struck the charioteer on the
head with his clenched fist, crying out that he had suffered the
horses to move and should be scourged for causing his hand to shake.

This charioteer, although he was a lord--since in the East men of high