The Shasta courier., 1868-10-17
COURIER.
ANDROCLES THE GLADIATOR.
OR, THE LION OF THE ARENA.

Our story opens in Northern Africa, in the
time of one of the early Roman emperors.--
Androcles, born to high rank in Britain, had
early in life, been hurried into bondage and
sold to a Roman nobleman, who held high
position in Numidia, the modern Algiers.-
Here he was treated so cruelty that he was
driven to the desperate cxpedient of running
away though he knew that, if captured,
death by torture awaited him; and if not
captured, starvation or else slaughter by the
fangs of some wild animal of the desert
would likely be his fate. But the teeth Of
the lion or hyena, or the crushing coils of the
huge snake, .are easier to bear, by generous
and manly mind, than unceasing insult and
contempt by which the soul is torn. -
Taking some provisions with him; he turn
ed his hasty steps towards the widest parts
of the country, seeking to get as far as pos
sible from the abodes of men, and the, to him
frightful Roman civilization. Towards the
close of the third day of his flight, he hap
pened to discover a cave that went far back
into the rock into this recess he entered
and found it lofty above, and foored with
smooth sand, while a fountain of water the
nectar of the desert, sprang strong and deep
from its farthest cavity.
Eagerly he quenched his thirst finished all
that remained to him of his provisions, gath
cred together, in deep nook of the cave,
some of the dry leaves that lay heaped at the
entrance and flung himself on his couch rude
but sweet and then, too tired to think of the
future, he soon fell into balmy and pro
found slumber.
But an awakening of dread and horror
awaited him. As the earliest dawn began to
stream in upon him through the narrow en-
trance and through fssure in the rock over
head the fugitive awoke; and listening, as
during all his flight he had got into the habit
might be audible, he thought he perceived a
and the tread of heavy foot. In alarm,
lifted himself upon his elbow, and gazing to-
ward the entrance, he described, to his hor.
ror. a lion of extraordinary size stalking into
the cave.
The unhappy mau concluded that his last
hour had come. There were no means of
escape or defence; and the savage tyrant of
the wood discovering him at the first glance.
came right up to where he lay. Androcles
rose to meet his fate like man, and looked
the monster steadfastly in the face. But how
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terror, instead of taking his fatal bound when
at the distance of twenty feet, came up quite
close to him. with n mild and subdued look
and, first rubbing his shaggy coat against
him, held up one Of his fore paws, as if to say,
&C Now, Sir Human Being, there is something
the matter with this foot of mine, and you
will place me under the deepest obligation if
you play the surgeon and put 1T to rights.
Il 81
mics; but if you do me this good turn, VOW
to be one of the best friends ever your man
ship met with This pledge myself to, on
the word of royal lion."
This appeal-the dumb oration-was so per-
suasive, especially in the circumstances,
where the imperial patient had the doctor so
at his discretion, that the slave
could not do otherwise than attend right
speedily to the case. Accordingly he sat
down, laid the paw on his knee, and at once
saw what was wrong. There was big thorn
in the monarch's foot. To pull it out would
give instant relief; but this could not be done
without occasioning a great deal of pain,
which might so irritate the despotic sufferer
as to prompt him to tear the extractor to
pieces. AS Androcles was delberating on
this point, the lion turned on him look
worthy of the Gar of Russia in his most i'm
patient mood, or Of the King of Dahomey.
just befor ordering a sacrifice of human be-
ings in honor of his predecessor, and emitted
a little bit of a growl, highly suggestive of
broken ribs. The surgeon therefore delayed
no longer, but gave the thorn a vigorous pull,
and succeeded in bringing it out, without Civ
ing his royal highness any pain to speak Of
The mighty creature felt relieved Immediately:
his every motion expressed gratitude and at
tachment to his benefactor; he lay down at
his feet, as if he wished to be his subject he
went round him and round him, as if he wish
ed to be his playfellow be stretched himself
ou the bed of leaves beside him, as if he wish
ed to be his bedfellow. AT length, getting up
suddenly as though an important idea had
struck him he left the cave at run.
Androcles, who was thoroughly convinced
OF the lions friendship, did not fear any evil
from his return, but was beginning to feel the
attack of hunger, when, after five hours ab
sence his friend of the rough great-coat came
back, bearing with him two lambs in his
teeth, which, like tribute. he laid at An
drocles' feet, as much as to saw. Zone good
turn deserves another"
Androcles dressed one. made a fire inside
the cave. cooked it, and had noble meal
AT night he laid down beside the mapnani-
nous beast, who guarded him and kent him
warm with his shaggy mane. The next day.
and ever after that, so long as the fugitive re,
mained in the cave. the lion rose from his
lar, went out every night about midnigh on
foraging expedition, and returned in the
morning, satiated himself. and bringing with
him abundant of choice food for his compan.
ion.
Four months passed in this way. But this
long security at length made the fugitive feel
too secure. He began to venture out of the
cave to a considerable distance, his
mode of life, for instance, and his fare, bv
angling in neighboring river that swarmed
with fish. He had even constructed for him
self an osier boat, fastened together by the
sinews of the animals he lived on
While he was thus occupied one day, out
on the broad stream. a large boat, with Re-
man legiouary soldiers on board, rowed up to
where he was, seized him, and carried him
back to his master, by whom he was sent to