The gleaming eyes were fixed upon her in intent ferocity.
? ? ? ? "Look, Esmeralda!" she whispered. "For God's sake, what shall we do? Look! Quick! The window!"
? ? ? ? Esmeralda, cowering still closer to her mistress, took one frightened glance toward the little square of moonlight, just as the lioness emitted a low, savage snarl.
? ? ? ? The sight that met the poor woman's eyes was too much for the already overstrung nerves.
? ? ? ? "Oh, Gaberelle!" she shrieked, and slid to the floor an inert and senseless mass.
? ? ? ? For what seemed an eternity the great brute stood with its forepaws upon the sill, glaring into the little room. Presently it tried the strength of the lattice with its great talons.
? ? ? ? The girl had almost ceased to breathe, when, to her relief, the head disappeared and she heard the brute's footsteps leaving the window. But now they came to the door again, and once more the scratching commenced; this time with increasing force until the great beast was tearing at the massive panels in a perfect frenzy of eagerness to seize its defenseless victims.
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