them off, if they were
scarred with battle, right away to another tent. And there He Himself
would wash their faces and their wounds and brush the sand out of their
coats and--but of course this was a deadly secret--would prize open
their mouths and wash out all the remains of whatever they had been
chewing or chasing with a long-handled ivory finger-nail brush.

Of course He would not do all this to-night because this was a special
occasion, and they knew exactly how to make Him come out of the tent
and send a certain call ringing across so that their friend the
stallion Sooltan would come racing, with native pad and halter,
riderless towards them.

This is how they worked it. First Touaa, because ladies always come
first, would pull his coat and then go out and point in the direction
of the find, growling softly, then give a short yelp and give up her
place to Iouaa, who had just pulled the coat, to come and point and
yelp, whilst she returned, to pull the coat.

It sounds complicated, but it's really as simple as simple and had
never been known to fail.

Of course He would throw something at them and tell them He was coming
because He was sick to death of them and their silly ways; but they
knew better. He was really just as keen as themselves--besides, He
belonged to the desert.

And tonight they would take Him first along the path where they had
chased their own shadows and show Him the very spot where they had
stopped and crouched, belly to ground, as the wind had brought a most
unusual scent to their keen noses; then they would take Him further
along the path and show Him how fast they had gone by the marks of
their pads in the sand; and then--and then! they would show Him the
scene of the great and glorious fight. Why, the field of battle
stretched for yards and yards and yards. And they could show Him the
marks where the wounded lioness had lashed with her tail in rage, and
the very place where they had taken off as they leapt upon her. And He
would really have to take care where He walked, because the place was
in a really terrible state, and He would have to keep his hand on the
halter because horses, even stallions, were most foolishly upset at the
scent of lion.

There was the spot where Touaa had rolled after her side had been
ripped, and the place from which Iouaa had leapt to fasten his fangs in
the lioness's muzzle from which she had dislodged him by rolling on her
back and ripping his che