tears, and I could not help saying that the old wretch
had some heart after all. Whyna told the king that if I had not pierced
the animal with my spear, and prevented his taking his first spring, she
should have lost her life, and the monster grinned a ghastly smile at
me, which I presume he meant for either approbation or gratitude.

At other times the chase would be that of the multitude of birds which
were to be found in the woods. The bow and arrow only were used, and
all I had to do now was to pick up all my mistress had killed, and
return her arrows--she would constantly kill on the wing with her arrow,
which not many could do besides her. By degrees I imbibed a strong
passion for the sport, attended as it was with considerable danger, and
was never so happy as when engaged in it. We remained about two months
in the woods, when the king was tired, and we returned to the town,
where I continued for some time to pass the same kind of life as I had
done before.

I should have been quite happy in my slavery, from my affection to my
mistress, had not a fresh instance of the unbounded cruelty of the old
monarch occurred a few days after our return from the chase, which
filled us all with consternation and horror, for we discovered that not
even my mistress, Whyna, could always prevail with the savage monster.

One morning I perceived that one of the king's guards, who had always
treated me with great kindness, and with whom I was very intimate, was
tied up to the executioner's post before the hut. Aware of the fate
which awaited him, I ran to the hut of Whyna, and so great was my
distress that I could not speak; all I could do was to clasp her knees
and repeat the man's name, pointing to the post to which he was tied.
She understood me, and eager to save the man, or to oblige me, she ran
to the large hut, and attempted to intercede with the old barbarian for
the man's life but he was in an agony of rage and passion; he refused
her, lifting up his sabre to despatch the man; Whyna was rash enough to
seize the king's arm, and prevent the blow; at this his rage
redoubled,--his eyes glowed like live coals, and turning to her with the
look of a demon, he caught her by the hair, and dragging her across his
feet, lifted up his scimitar in the act to strike off her head. I
sickened with horror at the danger she was in, but I thought he would
not strike. I had no weapon, but if he had done so, I would have
revenged her