Nero, the Circus Lion: His Many Adventures

at the front door of the jungle cave,

asked the boy

like you, who are going out for the first time. You must be brave and strong. Remember the lessons your mother and I have taught you. Crouch down and jump hard.

ble. Nero was excited, but he was sure he could hunt well. He was a brave lion, and he knew he was strong and nearly full grown now, an

ed out the lions'

to-night!" said Nero's father.

ry," answered

lose to me, but when you see a goat or a sheep or some other animal you

but lions must get their food

shook the ground on which he stood. The trembling of the earth seemed to tickle the pads

roar, Nero!" said his

d, louder t

ll tell the other jungle folk to keep out

ey do it to frighten away the other animal

make so much noise-not even the elephant, which is larger than ten lions. If you have eve

roared until there was a regular lion chorus, and the other beasts, hearing it, slunk back t

is best for us to stay in until they h

ar lions, for the big animals, with trunks and tusks, do not eat the same kind of food lions eat. Elephants live on grass, hay, palm-nuts

the jungle. "Tread softly. Sniff with your nose until y

reat deal in their hunting on what they can smell with their nose, just as your d

to eat. And Nero kept getting hungrier and hungrier, so that he looked eagerly around every side of h

through the grass when she is trying to catch a sparrow. The lions had done enough roaring to scare away other animals who might bother them i

ion, after a bit. "You will have to get along by yourself.

you going?"

er men lions," said Nero's father. "We are going to l

d he sprang on a tree trunk as he pas

said a voice behind Nero. It was not a loud voice,

r a moment it might be the crocodile w

itchie," wa

find that he knew some one among the lions bes

answered Switchie. "This isn't my firs

I hope I can kill a big buffal

ffaloes to your father and the other big men lions. They always take them. It take

asked

etter stick to the goats and the sheep, or even a rabbit, until you learn more about hunting. As for me, I am

you," growled Nero. "If I see a buffalo I'll

ou to be careful," warned Switchie. "Now come on! We must

sts as they walked along, looking for something to strike and kill, to stop the terrible hunger. The lions only w

ng the tangled vines, bushes and trees of the ju

?" asked Ner

ng. Don't be afraid," a

s. I never hunted in the jungle at night before, and I do

was my father, or yours, killing some big anima

father and that of Switchie crouching near something big and black lying on the ground.

asked Nero quickl

with one of his horns. Then I struck down the buffalo. Here, Nero, is a bit of meat for you, and, Switchie, you may have some. But not much. This meat belongs to Cruncher and me. We will give

, is the law

and then the hunt went on. Nero was still very hungry, and so was Switchie

thought Nero, who had gone to one side, an

imal, which was a big rabbit, and, all of a su

t Nero, as he ate his meal. "This is great

jungle, and, all at once

Baa!" blea

catch for my supper!" thought Nero.

he other lions. But he did not mind that. He felt

l catch that g

the goat bleating. At last, in an open place in the jungle, where the moon shone bright

et this fellow!" th

goat when, suddenly, there was a loud sound, like a small clap of thunder, and at once Nero

idden on a platform buil

t a lion! I hav

nt