from the generous disposition usually
ascribed to him, and which certainly he often displays when not
molested, or perhaps when not hungry.

Whether our lion was hungry or not, we had no means of judging; but we
knew he had been molested, and roughly handled too; his revengeful
feelings had been roused to their highest pitch; and, therefore,
whatever of vengeance was in his nature would now be exhibited. Beyond
a doubt his ire was not going to cool down in a hurry. We might wait a
long while before he would feel inclined to forgiveness. We had no hope
from his mercy. Perhaps the night might produce a change. On this
alone we rested our hopes.

We never speculated on being rescued by any of our companions from the
_Pandora_. Though Brace had friends among them, they were not the sort
of friends to trouble themselves much about what became of him. They
might make a show of search, but there were twenty ways they could go,
without hitting on the right one; and to find any one among these
limitless forests would be a mere act of chance. We had not much hope
of being rescued by them.

What little hope we had from this source rested upon a singular belief.
My companion suggested that the _Pandora's_ people, on finding we did
not return at night, might fancy we had deserted. In that case it was
probable enough we might be searched for, and with sufficient zeal to
ensure our being found!

This was a singular conjecture, and both of us wished it might prove a
correct one. Under this contingency there was a better prospect of our
being relieved.

By this time our thirst had become oppressive. Our throats were parched
as though we had swallowed red-pepper, and our tongues could not produce
the slightest moisture. Even the natural saliva had ceased to flow.

While suffering thus, an idea occurred to my companion: I saw him with
his knife make an incision in the bark of one of the branches. The
point that had first led us to approach the great tree was now decided.
Red sap flowed from the wound:--it was the "dragons'-blood!"

In hopes of getting relief from this source, we both moistened our lips
with the crimson-juice, and swallowed it as fast as it oozed out. Had
we been better acquainted with the medical botany we should have let
this liquor alone, for the dragons'-blood is one of the most noted of
astringents. Alas! we soon discovered its qualities by experiment. In
five minutes after, our tongues felt as