hbridge had spoken. The valley was
really a shallow saucer-like hollow in the rocky outcrop, with a small
pool in the middle of it, the ground forming the interior of the saucer,
so to speak, being quite smooth, with no projections or inequalities of
any kind to form cover for stalking purposes. The rock-surface was here
covered with a layer of soil which supported a crop of short, rich
grass, and had consequently been selected as the abode of a herd of some
thirty gazelles, which were now drawn up in line, close to the edge of
the water-hole. To the professor and Lethbridge, both of whom had
witnessed a similar incident before, the matter was perfectly clear.
The gazelles had gone down to the pool to drink, and, while thus
engaged, had been approached by a magnificent lion and lioness, which
had succeeded in getting within about a hundred yards of the herd ere
the latter had discovered their presence. Then the gazelles had faced
round upon their formidable foes, and stood at gaze, apparently
paralysed into inactivity, while the lions were evidently quite aware
that any attempt to make a dash at the herd would at once put it to
flight and send it hopelessly beyond their reach. So there the two
groups remained about a hundred yards apart, the gazelles motionless.
The lioness also was motionless, lying stretched at full length upon the
ground with her head resting upon her outstretched fore paws, while her
lord, some four or five yards nearer the gazelles, had assumed a
half-crouching attitude, very similar to that of a barking dog, and was
still emitting deep-throated roars at intervals.

"Ach, it is all right; we are in time; and now you will see what you
will see!" exclaimed von Schalckenberg, as Sir Reginald stopped the
engines, and the _Flying Fish_, slowing down, drifted gently into a
position which afforded the occupants of her deck an excellent view of
the little drama that was in progress.

The ship finally came to rest in the perfectly still air, immediately in
the rear of the lion and lioness, which were apparently altogether too
profoundly interested in their own proceedings to have become aware of
the presence of the great ship behind them; while the gazelles also--in
full view of which the huge, glistening, silver-like craft floated, at a
height of some two hundred feet above the ground--appeared to be too
intently occupied in watching their ferocious enemy to have any
attention to spare for anything e