Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-04-16

forth in all its grandeur and finishes as it com
menced. After five or six rOars he finishes witt
the same number of low, hoarse cries, which
seem as if he was trying to expel something
sticking in his throat, the last being very pro
longed. Nothing in Gerards remembrance pre-
sented a fitting point of comparison with tins
terrible roar of the lion. The believing of tu'
rious bull is no more like it than pistol shot il
like the sound of thirty-two-pounder. 1mag
inc what terror such roar would inspire, heard
in the lonely mountain passes under the silent
stars. On this occasion the lion roared for two
hours without quitting his place, and then de-
scended into the valley TO drink; long silence
followed, and then he began again more vigo,
rously than ever. Soon after, Gerard saw the
fires blazing in the distance, and heard the men,
women and dogs yelling as if possessed with
devils for one instant roar covered all THIS tu'
multi like thunder-clap; and then the lion
seemed to continue his route quite TRANQUILITY, MOI
in the least disturbed by all this noise, which
only seemed like triumphant music accompany
ing the powerful monarch on his march. lie
probably knew the terror his presence inspired
Mt any rate he knew no terror at the presence ol
Arabs.
Has the lion power of fascination2 The A
rabs all declare he has, and both men and beasts
are forced to follow him when onre he exercises
that power over them. The royal aspect and
the piercing splendor Of his tawny eye, together
with all those associations OF terror which MS
presence calls up, may suffice to paralyze aho
fascinate an unhappy victim
However, on this subject of fascination, let US
hear the story which Gerard heard from the
Arabs. Some years ago, Seghir, the hero OF this
adventure, was denied the hand of his mistress
from no worse crime than impecuniosity, which
has cut many true love knot, and he thought
it simpler to elope with bis beloved. He did So
but his path was dangerous, and he armed him.
self to the teeth. In his path he suddenly espled
lion walking straight toward them. The CIR
sbrieked so tearly that she was heard from the
tents. and several men rushed out to the rescue
When they arrived, they saw the lion walking O
few PAGES in front of Seghir, on whom his eyes
were constantly fixed, and leading him thus to-
wards the forest. The young girl in vain tried
TO make her lover cease to follow the lion, in
vain tried to separate herself from him. He held
her tight and drew her with him, SAYING "Come,
O my beloved, our Signeur commands us come
'sWhy don't YOU use your arms?" she cried
"Arms? | have none," replied the fascinated
victim. "Seigneur, believe her not; she lies; II
am armed. | will follow you wherever you
wun At this moment eight or ten Arabs came
up and fired. As the lion did not fall, they took
to their heels. With one bound the lion crushed
Seghir to the earth, and taking his head within
his enormous jaws, crunched it; after which ne
lay down by the side Of the young girl, placing
his paws upon her knees.
The Arabs now, finding that they were not
pursued, took courage, reloaded and returned =
At the moment their guns were pointed ne
spranp into the midst of them, seizing one with
his laws, and two with his claws, dragging them
thus together, so that the three formed as it
were, but one mass of flesh; he pressed them un-
der him, and mangled them as he had mangled
Seghir Those who had escaped ran back to
their tents to relate what they witnessed. None
dared return; the lion carried off the girl into
the forest On the morrow the bodies OF the
four men were found. That of the girl was
looked for, but they only found her hair, her
feet. her clothes. Her ravisher had eaten the
rest.
We have said that Gerard declares never to
have felt the fascinating power OF the lion in his
own person, but in one of his adventures he tes-
titles to the fact as regards bull, whom the lion
caused to walk slowly before him to the spot
where it should please his majesty to devour
him. The lion, on seeing Gerard approach,
stopped the bull, ten PAGES in advance stopped
at the same time Who will explain this2 We
dare not attempt it; the more so as our limits
are already touched.