misfortune to see a lion seize two of his oxen, at
the very instant he had taken them out of the wagon, but they fell
down dead, having had their backs broken. A father and two sons were in
search of a lion, when he rushed upon them, threw one of them under his
feet, but he received no great hurt, for the two others shot him dead
upon the spot. Another farmer had lain some time under a lion, received
several bruises from the beast, and was a good deal bitten by him in one
arm, but the noble animal, as it were, gave him his life: nevertheless,
others say, that if a lion once taste human blood, he for ever after
thirsts for it. So strong is this opinion in India, that an officer who
was asleep with his left hand out of bed, was awoke by his pet lion
licking him. Of course the rough tongue brought blood, and he tried to
withdraw his hand. The lion gave a slight growl, upon which the officer
took a loaded pistol from under his pillow, and shot him dead, feeling
convinced if he escaped then, he should never again be safe.

I might multiply my stories of destruction and escapes, till they alone
would form a volume, but I would rather give a few instances of the
gratitude of this magnificent creature. "One day," relates Mr. Hope,
"the company attended the Duchess of Hamilton to see her lion fed; and
while they were teasing and provoking him, the porter came and said,
that a sergeant with some recruits at the gate begged to see the lion.
Her grace afforded permission; the lion was growling over his prey, the
sergeant advanced to the cage, called "Nero, Nero, don't you know me,"
and the animal instantly raised his head; rose, left his food, and
wagging his tail went to the bars of his cage. The man patted him, and
then said it was three years since they had seen each other, that he had
taken charge of the lion from Gibraltar, and he was glad to see the poor
beast shew so much gratitude. The lion, indeed, seemed to be perfectly
pleased, went to and fro, rubbing himself against the place where his
old friend stood, and licked the sergeant's hand as he held it out to
him."

A lion, which, for its extreme beauty, was to be sent to Paris from
Senegal, fell sick before the departure of the vessel, and was let loose
to die on an open space of ground. A traveller there, as he returned
home from a hunting excursion, found him in a very exhausted state, and
compassionately poured a quantity of milk down his throat. Thus
refreshed, the po