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152 J 22 FABLED STORIES FROM THE ZOO.
together, then the old father would be bringing
home in his felucca the mangled remains of
their beloved son, ’ the pride of their old age,’
as he said, whilst a tear was stealing down his
manly cheek. Should the female bird return
alone, then Zeo had been saved by the
miraculous intervention of the gods ; but of this there
was very little hope, as the gods were never
known to exercise their power within the
charmed circle of the gory arena. With this
the heart-stricken father started on his lonely
journey, the goal of which at best was woe;
but it would bring certainty, which is always
chosen in preference to agonizing suspense.
The mother and daughter sat listlessly on the
beach, gazing vacantly on the ceaseless waves,
long after the sail was lost to view.
" When the old man, after many hardships,
arrived at last in the imperial city, he sought
and obtained an interview with his son, who
with stoic heroism was prepared to meet his
fate. He almost gloried in the anticipated fight
with a lion or a leopard, which he knew awaited
him, and he appeared well-nigh superhuman,
even to his veteran old father, in his supreme
contempt of the painful death that was in store
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