From the other side of the line came the noise and
cries of those who complained that these savage beasts
were eating and destroying men,
For such has been the habit of lions from time
immemorial, and groups of people have fallen victims
to their fury.
Those who were proud or boastful, have but sacrificed
their lives uselessly;
But to-day Patterson Sahib will watch for the lion
himself!
For the people have complained loudly, and the
valiant one has gone forth with his gun into the
forest.
Soon after the people had retired at night to their
tents, the fearless lion made his appearance;
Patterson Sahib loaded both barrels of his gun and
went forth against him.
He fired many times in succession and totally
paralysed the animal.
The lion roared like thunder as the bullets found their
way to his heart.
This Englishman, Patterson, is most brave, and is
indeed the very essence of valour;
Lions do not fear lions, yet one glance from Patterson
Sahib cowed the bravest of them.
He fled, making for the forest, while the bullets
followed hard after him;
So was this man-eater rendered helpless; he lay down
in despair,
And after he had covered a chain's distance, the
savage beast fell down, a corpse.
Now the people, bearing lights in their hands, all ran
to look at their dead enemy.
But the Sahib said "Return, my children; the night
is dark, do not rush into danger."
And in the morning all the people saw the lion
lying dead.
And then the Sahib said, "Do not think of work to-day
- make holiday, enjoy and be merry."
So the people had holiday and made merry with
friends from whom they had been long parted, on
account of the lion:
And the absence of those who had run away was
forgiven, and their money allowed them -
A generous action, comparable to the forgiveness of
God and the Prophet to sinners and criminals on the
day of judgment.
Oh! poet, leave this kind of simile, it is too deep
for thee;
We mortals have the Devil, like unto a fierce lion, ever
after us;
Oh! Roshan, may God, the Prophet, and your
spiritual adviser, safeguard you day and night!
One lion, however, remained, and for fear of him all
went in dread;
Sixteen days passed, all being well, and everyone
enjoyed a peaceful mind;
But again, on the seventeenth day, the lion appeared
and remained from sunset to sunrise.
He kept on roaming about in the neighbourhood like
a general reconnoitring the enemy's position.
On the following day the Sahib sent for the
people and warned them all to be careful of their
lives;
"Do not go out from the afternoon even until the
following morning," he said.
Now this was the night of Shab-i-Kadr, a Muslim
festival:
