And at first he would not, for, as men know, it is our custom to hunt the lion in companies; so it was my hour to mock.

Then he went and fetched his bow and arrows and a sharp knife.
And I brought forth my heavy spear, which had a shaft of thorn-wood, and at its end a pomegranate in silver, to hold the hand from slipping; and, in silence, we went, side by side, to where the lion lay.

When we came to the place, it was near sundown; and there, upon the mud of the canal-bank, we found the lion's slot, which ran into a thick clump of reeds.
"Now, thou boaster," I said, "wilt thou lead the way into yonder reeds, or shall I ?" And I made as though I would lead the way.
"Nay, nay," he answered, "be not so mad! The brute will spring upon thee and rend thee.

See! I will shoot among the reeds.

Perchance, if he sleeps, it will arouse him." And he drew his bow at a venture.
How it chanced I know not, but the arrow struck the sleeping lion, and, like a flash of light from the belly of a cloud, he bounded from the shelter of the reeds, and stood before us with bristling mane and yellow eyes, the arrow quivering in his flank.