o his heart. It was a fatal stroke. The huge beast shuddered
from head to foot, and drawing all his limbs together, he uttered a last
howl that sounded almost like the scream of a human being, and fell,
dead upon the sand.

Again the applause of the multitude rose like a thunder peal all around.

"Wonderful!" cried Marcellus. "I never saw skill equal to that of Macer!"

"Without doubt he has been fighting all his life," rejoined his friend.

But soon the carcass of the tiger was drawn away, and again the creak of
a grating as it swung apart attracted attention. This time it was a
lion. He came forth slowly, and looked all around upon the scene as if
in surprise. He was the largest of his species, a giant in size, and had
long been preserved for some superior antagonist. He seemed capable of
encountering two animals like the tiger that had preceded him. Beside
him Macer was like a child.

The lion had fasted long, but he showed no fury like that of the tiger.
He walked across the arena, and then completely around it in a kind of
trot, as though searching for escape. Finding every side closed, he
finally retreated to the center, and putting his face close to the
ground, he uttered a roar so deep, so loud, and so long, that the
ponderous stones of the coliseum itself vibrated at the sound.

Macer stood unmoved. Not a muscle of his face changed. He carried his
head erect with the same watchful expression, and held his sword ready.
At length the lion turned full upon him. The wild beast and the man
stood face to face eyeing one another. But the calm gaze of the man
seemed to fill the animal with wrath. He started back with his hair and
tail erect, and tossing his mane, he crouched for the dreadful spring.

The vast multitude stood spellbound. Here, indeed, was a sight worthy of
their interest.

The dark form of the lion darted forward, but again the form of the
gladiator, with his customary maneuver, leaped aside and struck. This
time, however, his sword struck a rib, and fell from his hand. The lion
was slightly wounded, but the blow served only to rouse his fury to the
highest point.

Yet Macer lost not one jot of his coolness in that awful moment.
Perfectly unarmed, he stood before the beast waiting his attack. Again
and again the lion sprang, but each time he was evaded by the nimble
gladiator, who by his own adroit movements contrived to reach the spot
where his weapon lay and regain possession of it. Armed wit