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274 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON |
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she found that he was dead she set up a howl of rage, lashed her sides, and opened her mouth, as if she would devour us all.
Again Fritz fired, and the shot, less fortunate than the first, only broke the shoulder of the animal. The wounded lioness rolled on the sand, foaming with rage, but all three of our dogs rushed upon her. I jumped from the boat, and, running up to the animal who was held fast by the dogs, I plunged my hunting-knife right into her heart, and she rolled over dead in an instant. But the victory had cost us dear, for there lay one of our dogs, a second Flora, dying from the terrible wounds she had received.
Fritz ran up, so did Ernest and Jack, and lighting some torches, we gazed at the lions majestically extended on the sand.
' What a terrible range of teeth !' said Ernest, as he raised up the head of the lion.
' Yes, and what frightful claws!' said Jack. ' Wouldn't they make nice holes in your skin ?'
' Poor Flora !' said Fritz, as he detached the dead body of our dog from that of the lioness; ' she has done for us to-day what our old ass did in the case of the boa. Come, Ernest, see if you cannot make an epitaph.' |
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