movement, he was upon his feet, and in a second launched himself into the air. But the dog that same instant bounded in an opposite direction, so that the lion fell in the corner while the dog alighted where the lion had been.

7. For a moment the lion seemed very much surprised at the loss of his prey; with the dog, the instinct of self-preservation developed a coolness that even overcame his terror. The body of the poor animal was all in a shiver, but his head was firm, his eyes were watchful. Without losing sight of his enemy, he slowly retreated into the corner behind him.

8: Then the lion, scanning his victim from the corners of his eyes, walked sidewise a few steps, and, turning suddenly, tried again to pounce with one bound upon the dog; but the dog seemed to anticipate this movement also, and in the same second jumped in the opposite direction, as before, crossing the lion in the air.

9. At this the lion became furious, and lost the calmness that might have insured him victory; while the courage of the unfortunate dog won for him the sympathy of all the spectators.

10. As the lion, excited and terrible, was preparing a new plan of attack, a rope ending in a loop was lowered to the dog. The brave little animal, whose imploring looks had been pitiful to

THE LION-KILLER.

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see, saw the help sent to him, and, fastening his teeth and claws into the rope, was immediately drawn up. The lion perceiving this, made a prodigious leap, but the dog was happily beyond his reach. The poor creature, drawn in safety to the terrace, at once took flight, and was soon lost to view.

11. At the moment when the lion threw himself on the ground of the pit, roaring with rage at the escape of his prey, the Sicilian entered, calm and firm, with club in hand. At his appearance in the pit, a silence like that of death came over the crowd of spectators. The Herakles walked rapidly to a corner, where, leaning on his club, he awaited the onslaught of the lion, who, blinded by fury, had not yet perceived his entrance.

12. The waiting was of short duration, for the lion, in turning, espied him, and the fire that flashed from the eyes of the terrible beast told of savage joy in finding another victim.

13. Here, however, the animal showed for a moment a feeling of anxiety; slowly, as if conscious that he was in the presence of a powerful adversary, he retreated some steps, keeping his fiery eyes all the time on the man. The Sicilian also kept his keen gaze on the lion, and, with his body slightly inclined forward, marked every alteration of position.

14. Between the two adversaries, it was easy to see that fear was on the side of the beast; but in comparing the man's feeble means of defense-a rude club-with the powerful structure of the lion, whose boundings made the very ground beneath him tremble, it was hard for the spectators to believe that courage and not strength would win the victory.

15. The lion was too excited and famished to remain long undecided. After more backward steps, which he made as if to gain time for reflection, he suddenly advanced in a sidelong direction to charge upon his adversary.

16. The Sicilian did not move, but followed with his fixed gaze the motions of the lion. Greatly irritated, the beast gave a mighty spring, uttering a terrific roar; the man at the same instant leaped aside, and the lion had barely touched the ground when the club came down upon his head. The king of the desert rolled heavily under the stroke and fell headlong, stunned and senseless, though not dead.

17. The spectators, overcome with admiration, and awed at the exhibition of so much calmness, address, and strength, were hushed into profound silence. The next moment the Bey arose, and asked mercy for his favorite lion. "A thousand ducats more if you will not kill him!" he cried to the Sicilian. "Agreed!" was the instant reply.

withdrew, keeping his eyes on the conquered brute. The two thousand ducats were counted out and paid. The lion shortly recovered.

19. With a universal gasp of relief, followed by deafening shouts and cheers, the spectators withdrew from the terrace, having witnessed a scene which they could never forget, and which, as was said in the beginning, is still talked of throughout Tunis.

1. Ferocious, incessantly, structure, obeisance, barred, ravenous, absorbed, behavior, crouched, unconcern, launched, selfpreservation, developed, anticipate, imploring, pitiful, onslaught, espied, conquered, adversaries.

2. Why is the lion called "the royal brute"? What animals have claws? What is the meaning of "the barred gate"? "launched himself into the air"? "scanning his victim"? "crossing the lion in the air"? "took flight"?

X. LEAD PENCILS.

1. With what delight must the world of artists and writers of all kinds have hailed the invention of the blacklead pencil as we have it to-day!

2. They had used the old-fashioned pen (made of the goose or crow quill) for designing and sketching, as well as for writing, and had cut sheet lead into strips for ruling. Some artists, indeed,