, 1862-02-01
A Fascinating Fellow.

About thirty years ago, says Jules Ger
ard, the great lion hunter, young man
named Seghir, belonging to the tribe of
Anamera, established in the Aures noun
tains, fell in love with a young girl who
had been refused to him by her father be-
cause of his poverty. The young people,
however, were much attached to each 9TH
er, and one evening the girl ran away with
her lover. The distance being considerable
between the two douars, and the road ex-
tremely perilous, Seghir had armed himself
from head to foot.
Already the most dangerous part of the
road had been cleared, and they we're be-
ginning to hear the dogs of the douar to-
wards which they were rapidly advancing,
when all at once lion, who till that mo-
ment had lain concealed behind the bushes,
rose and walked straight towards them.
The young girl shrieked SO fearfully that
her cries were heard by the people in the
tents, and several of them Immediately
rushed out to the rescue. When they came
to the spot to which they we're directed by
the loud screams of the young maiden, they
saw the lion walking slowly few feet in
front of Saghir, with his eyes steadfastly
fixed upon him, and leading him thus to-
wards thelforest The young girl did all
she could to prevent her lover from follow
ing the lion, or induce him 10 let 60 his
hold of herself; but it was in vain; he
kept dragging her on in spite of all her ef-
forts, saying,-'Come, my dear, come our
master will have it so we must &C! But
your weapons she cried; what are they
good for, if not to save me-? Weapons
/ have none,' answered the fascinated
wretch. Great Lord, believe her not;
she lies; am perfectly unarmed, and will
follow you wherever you will
At this moment the Arabs, eight or ten
in number, who had come to the rescue of
the unfortunate couple, perceiving that the
lion would very soon have them in the for
est. fired every one of them upon him but
on finding that he did not fall, they took to
their heels. The lion sprang upon Seghir,
and with one bound crushed him to the
earth, devouring his head at a bite; after
which he laid down by the side Of the
young girl, placing his huge paws upon her
knees. The Arabs now finding that the Ii
on did not condescend to pursue them, took
courage and returned, and having reloaded
their guns prepared again to fire; but be-
irg afraid of killing the girl, they told her
to try and get away from the lion, which
he allowed her to do, without ever losing
sight of her.
The moment the guns of the Arabs were
leveled at him, the lion sprang into the
midst of them and seized one Of them with
his teeth, and two others with his claws,
dragging them thus together SO as to make
as it were one bundle; then placing under
him that mass of palpitating flesh, he in
stantly smashed the three heads as he had
done that of seghir Those who had es-
caped ran off to the douar, and related
what they had witnessed, but no one was
bold enough to return for another attack.
The lion then took hold Of the maiden and
carried her off into the forest.
The next day the Arabs came to carry
away the bodies of the four men. As to
the young girl, nothing was found but her
hair, her feet and her clothes. All the rest
was devoured.
Is it then really true that the lion has
the power of fascinating the weak organi-
cation of certain men to the extent Of fore
ing them to follow him? All that l can
say is that every Arab have intelrogated
upon the subject has answered me in the
affirmative, and quoted number of exam
pies in support of his assertion. As for
myself, l can only say that whenever 1 had
the honor to find myself in the presence OF
the great monarch, l never felt the slight
est inclination to follow his royal steps,
though can quite understand how his
threatening aspect. his kingly majesty, the
piercing fxedness of his fiery look, should
paralyze the heart and brain of him who
meets him unexpectedly.