Page 322 - Child's own book

prodigious size, coming out of his den, leaped upon Furibon;
all his followers betook themselves to flight, and only Leander
remained to combat this furious animal. He attacked him
sword in hand at the
hazard of being de­
voured* and by his
valour and agility
saved the life of his
most cruel encniv,
* 1
who had fallen in a v‘
swoon for fear, so lhat
Loan (lor was forced
to lend him assistance of another kind: and when he came to
himself he presented him his horse to remount. Now, any
otltor hut such an ungrateful wretch would have highly and
cordially acknowledged such signal obligations, and made suit-
ahlc returns: hut Furihon did no such thing* for he did not
even look upon him ; nor did he make use of his horse to any
other purpose than to ride in quest of the ruffians* to whom he
repeatod his orders to kill him. They accordingly surrounded
Lcander, and hut for his courage he had ccrtainly been mur­
dered. lie got with his back to a tree, to prevent being
attacked behind, and behaved with so much bravery, that he
laid them all dead at his feet. Furibon, believing him by this
time slain, made haste to satiate his eyes with the sight; but he
came to a spectacle that he least expected, for all his ruffians
w-ere breathing their last. When Leander saw him, he ad­
vanced to meet him, and with a submissive reverence, tl Sir,"
said he, tl if it was by your order that these assassins came to
kill me, I am sorry I made any defence.”—44 You arc an inso­
lent villain," replied Furibon in a passion, “ and if ever you
come into my presence again, you shall surely die.”