she started violently, and would have risen. I
threw myself on the ground.

"You need not be frightened," I said. "I was following the beast when
happily you found a nearer protector! It passed me now with its foot
bleeding so much that by this time it must be all but dead!"

"There is little hope of that!" she answered, trembling. "Do you not
know whose beast she is?"

Now I had certain strange suspicions, but I answered that I knew nothing
of the brute, and asked what had become of her champion.

"What champion?" she rejoined. "I have seen no one."

"Then how came the monster to grief?"

"I pounded her foot with a stone--as hard as I could strike. Did you not
hear her cry?"

"Well, you are a brave woman!" I answered. "I thought it was you gave
the cry!"

"It was the leopardess."

"I never heard such a sound from the throat of an animal! it was like
the scream of a woman in torture!"

"My voice was gone; I could not have shrieked to save my baby! When I
saw the horrid mouth at my darling's little white neck, I caught up a
stone and mashed her lame foot."

"Tell me about the creature," I said; "I am a stranger in these parts."

"You will soon know about her if you are going to Bulika!" she answered.
"Now, I must never go back there!"

"Yes, I am going to Bulika," I said, "--to see the princess."

"Have a care; you had better not go!--But perhaps you are--! The
princess is a very good, kind woman!"

I heard a little movement. Clouds had by this time gathered so thick
over the moon that I could scarcely see my companion: I feared she was
rising to run from me.

"You are in no danger of any sort from me," I said. "What oath would you
like me to take?"

"I know by your speech that you are not of the people of Bulika," she
replied; "I will trust you!--I am not of them, either, else I should not
be able: they never trust any one--If only I could see you! But I like
your voice!--There, my darling is asleep! The foul beast has not hurt
her!--Yes: it was my baby she was after!" she went on, caressing the
child. "And then she would have torn her mother to pieces for carrying
her off!--Some say the princess has two white leopardesses," she
continued: "I know only one--with spots. Everybody knows HER! If the
princess hear of a baby, she sends her immediately to suck its blood,
and then it either dies or grows up an idiot. I would have gone away
with my baby, but the princess was from home, and I thought I migh