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He was just going to step down the fatal stairs, when his wife, who had strong suspicions of something intended against him, stopped and beseeched him not to execute a commission in which she perceived some mystery; and, so saying, pulled him along with her.

In the mean time, Kebal was agitated by a diversity of passions. Half an hour was gone without his having any intelligence of the success of his perfidy; and, impatient to know in person if his domestics had gratified his revenge, as he passed down quickly, those who were charged to execute his orders, and who, till then, had heard no one stir, not doubting but it was their victim, fell upon and massacred him in the dark. Such was the well-merited end of this barbarous father. He, to whom he had given, and from whom he had several times attempted to rob life, inherited all his substance. As his birth was a mystery to himself, he lived composed and tranquil with his wife, and never knew that she was his sister.

The eastern historian concludes this narrative by an Arabian proverb-" He that digs a pit for his brother, falls himself into it."

the lion, at a very small distance, struck my ear, which was immediately answered, by another of the same species, but considerably farther off. This last joined the other in a quarter of an hour, and, together they kept ranging round the camp.* We were soon prepared for them, and making a general discharge of our guns, intimidated and forced them to fly. It would be difficult to express how fearful the boldest is, of a lion; and it is easy, during the night, to discover by his countenance what species of wild beast is near.

If a lion, the dog, without stirring, begins to howl fearfully, and experiencing the greatest uneasiness, creeps toward the human species, and caressing, seems to demand protection.

The other domestic animals are not less agitated; all rising, none attempting to sleep. The oxen lowing in an under-melancholy tone. Horses paw the ground and suffer great agitation. The goats likewise shew their alarm; and the sheep pressing one against the other, form an immoveable mass.

Man alone, proud and sanguine, seizes his weapon, and, palpitating with impatience, sighs to meet his victim

On these occasions the alarm of my monkey was very striking. Fearful of guns, as of the ap

TERROR OF THE BRUTE CREATION proach of the lion, the smallest

ON THE APPROACH OF THE LION.

(Vaillant's Travels in Africa.) About half after eleven, says Mons. Vaillant, the roaring of

movement made him tremble. Moaning as if sick, he kept close by my side, dragging after me, as though overpowered with a deadly weakness.

In this inhospitable clime, abounding with beasts of prey, travellers, who, like M. Vaillant, had courage and perseverance to explore the interior of the country,

The cock alone appeared astonished at the common agitation. A sparrow-hawk would have thrown him into consternation; and he dreaded the smell of a pole-cat, more than all the lions of Africa.

Thus it is that each has a dreaded enemy; man only dares all, and fears none, except his own species.

If an hyena approaches, the dog will pursue it to a certain distance without any symptoms of fear. The ox continues lying on the ground without alarm, except it is a young beast that has never before heard that dangerous animal. The horse remains without any appearance of fear.

If jackalls (an animal of the fox species) come near, the dogs pursue them with eagerness to a prodigious distance, unless they scent lions or hyenas by the way; in which case they return as quick as possible. The Hottentots pretend that the jackall is the spy of other beasts; and that he comes to excite and provoke the dogs to follow him, in order that the lion and hyena may have the better opportunity to seize on their prey, which they share amicably with him in recompence for the service performed. What I have seen may in some measure lead to this assertion, which is most likely exaggerated. It is certain, that as soon as the jackalls begin their concert, the lion or hyena is to be expected. These, however, will not shew themselves

while the dogs are engaged. We ever kept two tied up, to bark in the absence of the rest, and prevent the approach of the hyena, who fears fire less than the lion.

Proceeding on our route one evening, continues our interesting traveller, we had hardly proceeded two leagues, before the horse, on which one of my Hottentot attendants rode, who was bringing up the rear of my cavalcade, took fright, and running away with him, came suddenly upon us, followed by all the rest in the greatest disorder. The confusion spread, and communicated itself to the twelve oxen that were yoked to the first waggon, who having, at that moment, no Hottentots to manage the leaders, took fright, and running violently, overset the carriage, and broke the beam; which the oxen dragged after them, rushing into a thicket.

The confusion increased every moment; while the bellowing of the cattle left us very little room to doubt of being pursued by lions. Some ran to arms; others endeavoured to stop the oxen which drew the other waggons, and which began running like the first. The rest of the Hottentots were seeking fuel to kindle a fire. Meanwhile I departed, followed by some of our best marksmen, examining the road we had just passed, determined to oppose the pursuit of the wild beast, and give my people time to prepare for them. The night was not very dark.

find it necessary to proceed in large parties. Like soldiers in an enemy's country, where they halt they pitch their tents, and this, from the extreme heat of the sun, is generally in the day time, renewing their route in the cool of the night, as often as they found the country not much infested with wild beasts.

We were on a sandy plain, so that we could discover objects at a considerable distance. Finding our dogs come back to us, I made no doubt but our pursuers were near, and immediately after we perceived two lions on an hillock, apparently waiting for us. We all fired together without wounding them, but they immediately disappeared. We then advanced, in hopes of shooting one at least, but finding our endeavours fruitless, and our fires at the camp appearing to be well kindled, we returned to them.

Our dispersed oxen soon followed our example, and came up to us one after another, the only ones wanting, being those belonging to the first waggon. We heard these low at a distance, but none of my men cared to follow the sound. I, however, engaged several of them to accompany me, each carrying a lighted brand in one hand a gun in the other, and we were attended by my dogs, who presently conducted us to the spot. The piece of the beam which they had dragged away, having caught between two beams, stopped the oxen; but tackle and traces were so entangled, that it was impossible to disengage them, without cutting it to pieces. Three only were now wanting; these had broken their yoke, and we concluded, were devoured; but on returning, we found they had just arrived in safety.

Could instinct alone have

taught these animals, that under the protection of our fires, they had nothing to fear from their enemies? or, could they have reflected, that during the twelve months they had travelled with me, the wild beasts, who had given them so much inquietude in the beginning, had never dared attack or even approach them; and from hence entertain an high opinion of mankind, considering them as powerful pro

tectors ?

I shall not endeavour to explain this mystery, but I believe that nature has indiscriminately endued animals with a sufficient quantity of intelligence to secure their own preservation. And I have had many occasions of remarking instances of this kind that has struck me with astonishment.

At day break we returned to the spot where we had seen the lions; by the prints of whose feet, I could discover that one was a female, the marks being smaller than those of the male. I followed them some time, which brought me within a little distance of my people, which proved that we had been closely beset.

We congratulated each other on our being on guard all night, and this proved an useful lesson to me, to travel no more after dark in a country I was so little acquainted with, and which, I afterwards learned, was the most dangerous of all Africa.

Fires are made in these cases, neither for warmth, nor always to cook their provisions, but to keep off the wild beasts. But even this element has sometimes proved no barrier to the royal tyger of Bengal, which has been known to rush through the flames when pinched by hunger.

FIDELITY OF A DOG.

Having left Swillendam, says M. Vaillant, I took an easterly course, and after two days journey, arrived at a wood, named Le Bois du Grand Pere. I deter- mined to stay till the next day, and prepared accordingly, wishing to explore the wood.

In calling my dogs, I observed a little female, which I called Rosette, a great favourite, was absent. Concerned at this, for she had been of great use to my pack, I enquired of all my people whether they had seen her on the road. One only assured me that he had fed her in the morning.

After an hour or two spent in fruitless searches, I sent out my Hottentot to call on all sides; I likewise fired my piece several times, thinking the report might reach her, and put her on the scent. When I saw their endeavours did not succeed, I ordered one of my men to mount my horse, and return the way we came, directing him to spare no pains in tracing my favourite. In about four hours we saw the messenger returning, carrying before him, on the pommel of the saddle, a chair, and a large basket. Rosette was running before, appearing as pleased to see me as I was satisfied with her

return.

The Hottentot informed me that he had found her about two leagues distance, seated on the road, by the side of the chair and basket, which had been dropped from the waggon without being perceived. I had heard much of the fidelity of dogs in similar cases, but this was the first

instance I ever witnessed of it.

I own the little recital affected me; and the proof she had given of attachment made her still more valuable. If my man had not been successful in his search, she must have perished with hunger, or become a prey to some wild beast.

M. Jannequin in his voyage to Senegal, relates a singular combat betwixt a Moorish chief monarch of the forest, on the banks of the Niger. This prince took M. Jannequin and his attendants to a place adjoining a large wood; much infested by wild beasts, and directed them to mount the trees. Then getting on his horse, and taking three spears and a dagger, he entered the wood, where he soon found a lion, which he wounded in the buttock. The enraged animal sprang with great fury at his assailant, who, by a feigned flight, drew him where the company was stationed. He then turned his horse, and in a moment darted a second spear at him, which pierced his body. He alighted, and the lion, now grown furious, advanced with open jaws, but he received the animal on the point of his third spear, which he forced into his gullet; then, at one leap, springing across his body, he cut open his throat with the dagger. In this contest, the Moor's agility and address was such, that he received only a slight scratch on the thigh.

A HINT TO A KING.

There was one Ferguson, an intimate of king James I. whơ,

being about the same age, had been a play-fellow with him when they were young, came with him into England, and, extending the rights of friendship too far, frequently took the the liberty of advising, and sometimes admonishing, or rather reproving his sovereign. The king was often vexed by his freedom, and at length said to him, between jest and earnest, "You are perpetually censuring my conduct: I'll make you a king some time or other, and try you.' Accordingly one day, the court being very jovial, it came into his majesty's head to execute this project; and so calling Ferguson, he ordered him into the chair of state, bidding him there play the king; while, for his part, he would personate Johnny Ferguson. The mock-sovereign put on the airs of royalty, and talking to those about him in a strain like that of the real one, only with less pedantry. It was a perfect comedy, till the unlucky knave turned the tables, and came all of a sudden to moralize on the vanity of honour, wealth, and pleasure; to talk of the insincerity, venality, and corruption of courtiers, and servants of the crown; how entirely they had their own interests at heart, and how generally their own pretended zeal and assiduity were the disguise of falsehood and flattery. This discourse made a change in some of their countenances, and even the real monarch did not relish it altogether. He was afraid it might have some effect upon his minions, and lessen the tribute of adulation they were used to offer with great profusion, when they found how this wag observed

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and animadverted on it. But the monitor, however, did not stop here he levelled a particular satire at the king for the mimic, pointing directly James (who was to personate Ferguson), raising his voice"There," said he, "stands a man whom I would have you imitate the honest creature was the comrade of my childhood, and regards me with a cordial affection to this very moment : he has testified his friendship by all the means in his power; studying my welfare, guarding me from evil counsellors, prompting me to princely actions, and warning me of every danger; for all which, he never asked me any thing: and, by Jove, though I have squandered thousands on several of you, yet, in the whole course of my life, I never gave him a farthing." The king, nettled by the sarcasm, cried out to Ferguson, "Augh! you pauky loun, what wad you be at? Awa aff my thrane, and let's hae na mair o' your nainsance."

DUELLING.

The ancients most certainly have had very imperfect notions of honour, for they had none of duelling. One reads, it is true, of murders committed every now and then among the Greeks and Romans, prompted only by interest and revenge, and performed without the least Attic politeness, or Roman urbanity. No letters of gentle invitation were sent to any man to come and have his throat cut the next morning.

This delicacy of sentimentthis refinement of manners, was

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