TWO PERSIAN SCHOOLBOYS.,

tall reeds and rushes bordering their margins.

Suddenly a pretty spotted fawn darted in front of
the group, and.crossing the open ground, vanished
amid a thick clump of reeds. ‘“ What a nice pet the
little creature would make for our sister Hadassah!”
cried Otanes eagerly. ‘See! it has hidden among
the reeds; we might take it alive. Go with Candaules
and the slaves, Smerdis, and form a half-circle beyond
the clump. When you're ready, whistle, and I’ll ride
straight down and drive it towards you; you can easily
catch it then. We are so near the entrance of the
park now that we shall have plenty of time; the third
signal hasn’t sounded yet.”

Smerdis instantly agreed to the plan. The horses
were fastened to some trees, and the men cautiously

79

from his saddle, while the horse, free from its rider,
dashed, snorting with terror, towards the park entrance,

“A lion! A lion!” shrieked the trembling slaves,
but Smerdis, drawing his dagger, ran towards the
place where his brother had fallen, passing close by
the body of the fawn which lay among the reeds with
its head crushed by a blow from the lion’s paw.
Candaules followed close at the lad’s heels.

Parting the thick growth of stalks, they saw, only
a few paces off, Otanes, covered with blood, lying
motionless on the ground, and beside him the dead
body of a half-grown lion, the boy’s arrow buried in
one eye, while the blood still streamed from a lance-
wound in the animal’s side.

Smerdis, weeping, threw himself beside his brother,

 

THE HUNTING PARTY WERE NEARLY READY TO START.

made a wide circuit, passed the bed of reeds, and
concealed themselves behind the tall rushes beyond.
A low whistle gave Otanes the signal to drive out the
fawn.

Smerdis and the slaves saw the lad straighten him-
self in the saddle, and with a shout, dash at full speed
towards the spot where the fawn had vanished. He
had almost reached it when the stiff stalks shook
violently, and a loud roar made them all spring to
their feet. They saw the brave boy check his horse
and fit an arrow to the string, but as he drew the
bow, there was a stronger rustle among the reeds; a
tawny object flashed through the air, striking Otanes

and at the same moment Intaphernes, with several
nobles and attendants, attracted by the cries, dashed
up to the spot. The father, springing from the sad-
dle, bent, and laid his hand on the boy’s heart.

“Ttis beating still, and strongly too!” he exclaimed.
“ Throw water in his face! perhaps” —

Without finishing the sentence, he carefully exam-
ined the motionless form. ‘Ormuzd be praised!
He has no wound ; the blood has flowed from the lion.
See, Prexaspes, there is a lance-head sticking in its
side. I believe it’s the very beast you wounded early
in the day.”

The officer whose laugh had so vexed Otanes,