Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-17

with a tranquil air the shadows cast by
the rocks, bounding with grace over the
chRsms which opened before him. When
he reached the summit of hill or one Of
those escarpments which the moon mum
dated with her rays, his grand silhouette
animated and filed the landscape. On
arriving at the entrance Of the ravine he
stopped, took breath, and with the same
majestic and quiet step turned toward the
zephyr's encampment
The rock upon which the soldier was
seated did not rise moro than Is feet above
the bottom Of the ravine, SO that with a
single bound the lion could have reached
the top. He came steadily on in the shadow
thrown by the little eminence, raised his
head to measure the height, crouched as
If ready to spring, but instead Of doing so
Strengthened himself again and seemed to
listen.
The sheep, not very intelligent, as every
one knows, treasured, as men often are,
by numbers slept quietly, suspecting no
more than their guardian the approach Of
the enemy. The zephyr at this precise
moment was playing the most joyous
waltz in his repertory. He displayed
in it's execution sentiment, a sweetness
of tone which ought to have charmed the
king Of tho mountain. Perhaps he was not
very hungry just then unless the proverb
which says, Hungry stomach has no
ears" DO false. However that may be,
after two or three movements betraying
great uncertainty, the terrible beast ended
by lying down at the foot Of the hillock,
supported his great head on his outstretched
paws and with half closed lids seemed to
listen, which proves that the story Of Or
pheus Is not q fable.
Now the Abandonment Of the sheep was
known to the neighborins douar. Its in
habitants, supposing that the infdels had
left guard or number of soldiers suffi-
cient to defend the flock, decided to await
the night to reconnoiter. AS all the war
riors or men from the great tents" were
away, the old Caid, who commanded the
tribe in the absence Of the sheik, thought
it best to do this. At the hour when the
lion left his den 10 men, the Caid and
young boy, almost a child, son Of the
sheik, also left the douar and marched in
silence toward the plain, hoping to sur
prise the Christians and carry off their cat
tie. Being ignorant of the number Of the
enemy they were to encounter, the Caid
recommended his men to advance with
great caution, either that the surprise
might be complete or in case 1t seemed
best not to attack that they might retire
without raising the infldefs' attention.
They approached noiselessly, arms in
readiness finger on the trigger, with the
Roumi, the sheik's son, some steps in ad-
vance, for even in the desert "noblesse
oblige." His old kinsman, the Caid, was
proud Of the child's courage and followed
his every movement with a look in which
could be read mingled solicitude and ad-
miration.
They were nearing the end Of their ex-
petition when the lion, who scented their
approach before seeing them, opened his
large eyes, knitted his brows and rose. A
hyena would have fled like a coward, a
panther would have lain In ambush to sur
prise them later, but the lion advanced
proudly to the middle of the ravine. He
shifted at the earth. Then with swinging
tail, which swept the ground from side to
side, with bristling name and sparkling
eyes, majestic and terrible, he paused.
1t was at this moment that the zephyr
saw him. The hautboy, from which he
lately drew such sweet sounds, slipped from
his hand, and for minute he remained
petrifled with stupor, but soon recovering
his presence Of mind and his courage he
seized his gun, cooked it and took aim.
He was just about to fire when noise,
which he could not explain at first, pre-
vented him. Almost at the Same instant
he heard voice, with an accent of pro-
foundest terror, cry, "CaidP' 1t was the
ROumi, who had just perceived the lion.
Seized with the horrible fear which that
animal always produces on the Arab, he
turned and ran toward his companion.
All saw him then. The Caid, forgetting
the Christians whom he had come to sur
prise, commanded, ''Fire!' Ten musket
shots rang out in the night, lighting up
the ravine, but the lion remained stand
ing He gave roar which was echoed
like thunder on every side of the noun
tain. Then with one prodigious bound
he fell on the sheik's son. The lion was
holding the Roumi under his heavy paw,
his claws were digging into his flesh,
while with open mouth, painting breath,
his eyes blazing with ferocity, he seemed
ready to devour him. 1t was at this mo-
ment that Carette fired. The noble beast,
struck in the temple, gave second roar,
but it was only death rattle this time,
and he fell to rise no more. Meanwhile,
not knowing that he was dead, the soldier
jumped into the ravine and advanced
bravely to the ferocious beast while the
Arabs, in spite Of their incontestable cour-
age, rested on the defensive, not daring
to approach to dispatch the lion or to raise
their young comrade. 1t was the zephyr
that lifted him and placed him upon a
rock. have said that Carette had trav-
eled with charlatan and pretended to GER
tain medical knowledge. If his preten-
sions were not fully justified, they were in
a measure, his master taking about with
him a skeleton and some anatomical
plates, which he exhibited to the public.
His pupil had often examined them, and
he had In addition lightness Of touch,
dexterity acquired In prestidigitation dur
ing another phase Of his adventurous
youth.
This explains how he stanched the blood,
bandaged the wounds and tended the Rou-
hi with skill which gave the Arabs an ex-
Allied idea Of his talents.
When his nephew came to himself, the
Caid, who until then had not spoken,
went up to Carette and thanked him
without much effuslon, but in the grave
tones peculiar to the men Of the noun
tains, which, If 1t is less expressive, Is
more sincere than the loquacity Of the
Greeks. The zephyr who spoke little
Arabic like most soldiers who have passed
some time in Africa, expressed to the Caid
his desire to live on good terms with them