The Durham Daily Globe

A CHILD IN THE LIONS' CAGE.
Awful Ordeal of a Lion Keeper in the Employ of the Khedive of Egypt.

"When Ismail Pasha, the extravagant khedive of Egypt, reigned over that historical land," said an acquaintance of the notorious ruler, "he had in his garden a large cage of African lions. Noble brutes they were, and until the event of which I speak I never tired of looking at them. One day, while walking with his highness in the garden, the keeper, accompanied by a pretty little girl, entered, carrying a basket of meat for the lions.

"The khedive and I walked toward the cage to watch the beasts eat. They were hungry, and pounced upon their food with a ravenous fury that chilled me. Standing close by the cage, with her hands resting on the bars, was the little child, her long golden hair at times blown by the breeze inside the enclosure.

" 'Why do you permit your daughter to go so near the lions?' the khedive asked of the keeper.

" 'Oh,' replied the keeper, 'they are so accustomed to her they would not harm her.'

" 'Then open the door and put her inside,' said the khedive.

"My blood froze at the command, for command it was. I tried to speak, but could not. I was unable even to move. The keeper, with the submissiveness of those who know their lives will pay forfeit if they disobey their ruler, made with his eyes an appeal for mercy. But, seeing none in the khedive's face, he kissed the little one tenderly, lifted her up, opened the door, placed her inside and, as the door swung to, he turned his face away and groaned. The little one, though she did not stir, seemed not afraid.

"The lions appeared surprised, and as the largest and fiercest rose and walked toward her I thought I should choke. Happily the father did not see the beast.

"The khedive alone was unmoved, and stood gazing at the scene calmly and with the curious smile I had so often seen play upon his features when watching the dance of a ballet. The lion went up to the child, smelled of her, looked at her for fully half a minute, then lay down at her feet and beat the floor with his tail. Another lion approached. The first one gave an ominous growl and the second lion went back. The others crouched low, and each second I expected them to spring, but they did not. This continued, I think, about five minutes, the big lion never taking his eyes from the girl and ceaselessly lashing the floor.

"The khedive by this time was evidently satisfied, and turned to the keeper and commanded him to thrust a live lamb into the cage through another door. With a celerity I have never seen equaled, the keeper caught a straying lamb and obeyed. As he did so, every lion sprang upon the lamb.

" 'Take out the child,' the khedive commanded, and scarce had the words escaped him ere the keeper, who had already run to that end of the cage, jerked open the door, snatched the little one out and clasped her in his arms. The khedive laughed, tossed the keeper a coin, and, taking my arm, walked on."

-Chicago Post.