und himself in a
narrow cell of oppressive heat and atmosphere, and lighted by several
rank and flaring torches.

The animals, usually kept in different vivaria, or dens, were now, for
the greater entertainment of the visitors, placed in one, but equally
indeed divided from each other by strong cages protected by iron bars.

There they were, the fell and grim wanderers of the desert, who have now
become almost the principal agents of this story. The lion, who, as
being the more gentle by nature than his fellow-beast, had been more
incited to ferocity by hunger, stalked restlessly and fiercely to and
fro his narrow confines: his eyes were lurid with rage and famine: and
as, every now and then, he paused and glared around, the spectators
fearfully pressed backward, and drew their breath more quickly. But the
tiger lay quiet and extended at full length in his cage, and only by an
occasional play of his tail, or a long impatient yawn, testified any
emotion at his confinement, or at the crowd which honored him with their
presence.

'I have seen no fiercer beast than yon lion even in the amphitheatre of
Rome,' said a gigantic and sinewy fellow who stood at the right hand of
Sosia.

'I feel humbled when I look at his limbs,' replied, at the left of
Sosia, a slighter and younger figure, with his arms folded on his
breast.

The slave looked first at one, and then at the other. 'Virtus in
medio!--virtue is ever in the middle!' muttered he to himself; 'a goodly
neighborhood for thee, Sosia--a gladiator on each side!'

'That is well said, Lydon,' returned the huger gladiator; 'I feel the
same.'

'And to think,' observed Lydon, in a tone of deep feeling, to think that
the noble Greek, he whom we saw but a day or two since before us, so
full of youth, and health, and joyousness, is to feast yon monster!'

'Why not?' growled Niger, savagely: 'many an honest gladiator has been
compelled to a like combat by the emperor--why not a wealthy murderer by
the law?'

Lydon sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and remained silent. Meanwhile the
common gazers listened with staring eyes and lips apart: the gladiators
were objects of interest as well as the beasts--they were animals of the
same species; so the crowd glanced from one to the other--the men and
the brutes--whispering their comments and anticipating the morrow.

'Well!' said Lydon, turning away, 'I thank the gods that it is not the
lion or the tiger I am to contend with; ev