A Providential Safe Conduct
A traveller gives a singular anecdote of a lion, which he says was related
to him by very credible persons. About the year 1614 or 1615, two
Christian slaves at Morocco made their escape, travelling by night, and
hiding themselves in the tops of trees during the day, their Arab pursuers
frequently passing by them. One night, while pursuing their journey, they
were much astonished and alarmed to see a great lion close by them, who
walked when they walked, and stood still when they stood. Thinking this a
safe conduct sent to them by Providence, they took courage, and travelled
in the daytime in company with the lion. The horsemen who had been sent in
pursuit came up, and would have seized upon them, but the lion interposed,
and they were suffered to pass on. Every day these poor fugitives met with
some one or other of the human race who wanted to seize them, but the lion
was their protector until they reached the sea coast in safety, when he
left them.
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