son Sahib will watch for the lion himself!

For the people have complained loudly, and the valiant one has gone
forth with his gun into the forest.

Soon after the people had retired at night to their tents, the fearless
lion made his appearance;

Patterson Sahib loaded both barrels of his gun and went forth against
him.

He fired many times in succession and totally paralysed the animal.

The lion roared like thunder as the bullets found their way to his
heart.

This Englishman, Patterson, is most brave, and is indeed the very
essence of valour;

Lions do not fear lions, yet one glance from Patterson Sahib cowed the
bravest of them.

He fled, making for the forest, while the bullets followed hard after
him;

So was this man-eater rendered helpless; he lay down in despair,

And after he had covered a chain's distance, the savage beast fell
down, a corpse.

Now the people, bearing lights in their hands, all ran to look at their
dead enemy.

But the Sahib said "Return, my children; the night is dark, do not rush
into danger."

And in the morning all the people saw the lion lying dead.

And then the Sahib said, "Do not think of work to-day--make holiday,
enjoy and be merry."

So the people had holiday and made merry with friends from whom they
had been long parted, on account of the lion:

And the absence of those who had run away was forgiven, and their money
allowed them--A generous action, comparable to the forgiveness of God
and the Prophet to sinners and criminals on the day of judgment.

Oh! poet, leave this kind of simile, it is too deep for thee;

We mortals have the Devil, like unto a fierce lion, ever after us;

Oh! Roshan, may God, the Prophet, and your spiritual adviser, safeguard
you day and night!

One lion, however, remained, and for fear of him all went in dread;

Sixteen days passed, all being well, and everyone enjoyed a peaceful
mind;

But again, on the seventeenth day, the lion appeared and remained from
sunset to sunrise.

He kept on roaming about in the neighbourhood like a general
reconnoitring the enemy's position.

On the following day the Sahib sent for the people and warned them all
to be careful of their lives;

"Do not go out from the afternoon even until the following morning," he
said.

Now this was the night of Shab-i-Kadr, a Muslim festival:

And at night when all had retired to rest, the lion came in a rage,

And Patterson Sahib went forth into the fi