Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/54

 siderable distance,  when,  looking  back,  they  noticed a cloud of  dust  a long  way  off,  which  rapidly  drew nearer; presently they  were  able  to  descry  two armed men  on  dromedaries,  who  were  gaining  on them  fast. It was  evident  that  their  master  was  coming in  pursuit  of  them  with  his  servant; in  terror they looked  around,  to  see  if  there  was  no  place  at hand  where  they  could  conceal  themselves. Somewhat farther they  caught  sight  of  a cleft  in  a rock, which appeared  to  be  the  entrance  to  a cavern. Thither they  fled  with  the  utmost  speed. As the passage beneath  the  rock  seemed  very  long,  they  were afraid to  venture  far,  and  therefore  crouched  in  a corner  near  the  entrance. A few minutes  later  their pursuers reached  the  cavern,  and,  halting  before  it, with loud  shouts  and  terrible  threats  called  on  the fugitives to  come  out. As no  answer  came,  the  master sent his  servant  into  the  cavern,  to  drive  out  the  two men at  the  sword’s  point. The servant  penetrated a long way  into  the  cavern,  making  a great  noise  as he  went. Suddenly a lioness  sprang  upon  him  out of the  background,  killed  him,  and  dragged  him  away to her  den. The Arab  waiting  outside  grew  impatient at  the  non-appearance  of  his  servant,  and, dismounting from  his  dromedary,  entered  the  cavern himself, uttering  oaths  and  curses. The lioness sprang upon  him  also,  killing  him  with  a single  blow of her  paw. The two  fugitives  hidden  in  the  cleft trembled with  fear,  thinking  they  would  be  the  next victims. But matters  took  an  unexpected  turn. The lioness apparently  thought  her  den  was  not  a sufficiently safe  spot  for  her  young,  for  she  carried  one  cub