. They presently returned, bringing in
four more skins; so that eight lions in all had fallen in the night's
work.

"Well, Malchus, what do you think of lion hunting?" Adherbal asked as
they gathered again in the general's tent.

"They are terrible beasts," Malchus said. "I had not thought that any
beast could make so tremendous a roar. Of course I have heard those
in captivity in Carthage, but it did not seem nearly so terrible as it
sounded here in the stillness of the desert."

"I own that it made my blood run cold," Adherbal said; "and their charge
is tremendous--they broke through the hedge of spears as if they had
been reeds. Three of our men were killed."

"Yes," Malchus agreed; "it seemed almost like a dream for a minute when
the great beast was among us. I felt very glad when he rolled over on to
his side."

"It is a dangerous way of hunting," Hamilcar said. "The chase on
horseback in the plains has its dangers, as we saw when that Numidian
was killed; but with proper care and skill it is a grand 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
piercin