Some two or three hundred still remained, but they
were haunted by this terrible dread,
And because of fear for their lives, would sit in their
huts, their hearts full of foreboding and terror.
Every one of them kept a fire burning at night, and
none dared to close his eyes in sleep; yet would some
of them be carried away to destruction.
The lion's roar was such that the very earth would
tremble at the sound, and where was the man who did
not feel afraid?
On all sides arose weeping and wailing, and the people
would sit and cry like cranes, complaining of the deeds
of the lions.
I, Roshan, chief of my people, also complained and
prayed to God, the Prophet, and to our spiritual
adviser.
And now will I relate the story of the Engineer
in charge of the line.
He kept some ten or twenty goats, for the sake of
their milk;
But one night a wild beast came, and destroyed
them all, not one being left.
And in the morning it was reported by the
watchman, who also stated that the man-eater was daily
destroying the labourers and workmen, and doing great
injury;
And they took the Engineer with them and showed
him the footprints of the animal.
And after seeing what the animal had done, the
Englishman spoke, and said,
