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54 the great lion, that now lacked one paw, but still stood upon its hind legs, striking at him with the other.

The man, who was absolutely silent, dodged the blow and hit back with the axe, catching the beast upon the breast with such weight that it came to the ground in a lopsided fashion, since now it had only one fore-foot on which to light.

The axe flashed up again and before the lion could recover itself, or do anything else, fell with a crash upon its skull, sinking deep into the head. After this all was over, for the beast's brain was cut in two.

I am here at the appointed time, Macumazahn, said Umslopogaas, for it was he, as with difficulty he dragged the axe from the lion's severed skull, to find you watching by night as it is reported that you always do.

No, I retorted, for his tone irritated me, you are late, Bulalio, the moon has been up some hours.

I said, O Macumazahn, that I would meet you on the night of the full moon, not at the rising of the moon.

That is true, I replied, mollified, and at any rate you came at a good moment.

Yes, he answered, though as it happens in this clear light the thing was easy to anyone who can handle an axe. Had it been darker the end might have been different. But, Macumazahn, you are not so clever as I thought, since otherwise you would not have come out against a lion with a toy like that, and he pointed to the little rifle in my hand.

I did not know that there was a lion, Umslopogaas.

That is why you are not so clever as I thought, since of one sort or another there is always a lion which wise men should be prepared to meet, Macumazahn.

You are right again, I replied.

At that moment Hans arrived upon the scene, followed at a discreet distance by the waggon boys, and took in the situation at a glance.

The Great Medicine of the Opener-of-Roads has worked well, was all he said.

The great medicine of the Opener-of-Heads has worked better, remarked Umslopogaas with a little laugh and pointing to his red axe. Never before since she came into my keeping has Inkosikaas (i.e., Chieftainess, for so was this famous weapon named) sunk so low as to drink the blood of beasts. Still, the stroke was a good one so she need not be