THE GENEROUS LION AND HIS ASSAILANTS. 103

to France, when it fell ill. Its keepers, supposing that it
would not recover, left it to die on the wild open side of the
mountain which they were at the time crossing. There it
lay, on the point of dying, when a traveller, who had been
shooting in the interior of the country, happened to pass that
way. Seeing the state of the noble-looking animal, he gave
it some new milk from the goats which he had in his camp.
The lion drank it eagerly, and at once began to revive, show-
ing its thankfulness by licking the hand of the kind stranger.
The traveller continued his kind offices to the poor beast,
which, owing to his care, completely recovered.

When the traveller moved on, the lion joined his camp,
and became so attached to him that it followed him about
everywhere, taking food from his hand, and being in every
respect as tame as a dog.

 

THE GENEROUS LION AND HIS
ASSAILANTS.

Tt was the custom till lately on the Continent to have
combats between wild animals and dogs, although they were
very different from those seen in the days of ancient Rome.
It had been arranged that a battle should take place
between a lion and four large bull-dogs. The lion, let out
from his den, stood looking round him in the arena, when
the dogs were also let loose. Three of them, however, turned
tail, one alone having the courage to attack him. The lion,
crouching down as the dog drew near, stretched him motion-
less with one stroke of his paw; then drawing the animal