THE SWEET-SCENTED NAME
from loss of blood. What happened I know not, but the beast went away without touching my body again. When I regained consciousness night was already over. As I lay, weak and smeared with blood, I saw the trace of the beast's footsteps away from me. Then I understood that I had wounded him grievously, and that he had gone away to die perhaps, perhaps to heal his wounds with forest leaves."
The old men deliberated a long while over the crime of Zakkir—could not make up their minds what to do, but at last the crafty Bellessis made a suggestion that won much praise.
"Let us wait till we hear the roaring again," said he. "If we hear the voice again that will show the victory of the dweller on the other side of the river Mairure over death, and we will then deliver to him Zakkir, naked and bound. So shall we be requited for the insult, and his anger not fall upon us."
The boys and girls of the village rejoiced, assuming that the beast was dead. "He is dead," they cried; "he will not come and roar any more outside our houses."
They crowned the rash and beautiful hunter with flowers, danced round him, and
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