p in which lay the lake, with the tall reeds that fringed
the margin of the water rising some half a dozen yards ahead of them.
The surface of the lake was just visible in the soft sheen of the
starlight, and here and there, at no great distance, could be descried
certain bulky forms standing in the water, which, from their size, could
only be those of elephants; while a small pattering sound, as of falling
rain, told the watchers that the great brutes were treating themselves
to the luxury of a shower-bath. The elephants were well out from the
shore, standing apparently knee-deep in the water; hence their
visibility; but the reeds were too tall to permit of animals being seen
if they happened to be drinking at the extreme edge of the water. The
hunters had made what Mildmay characteristically designated "a bad
landfall." What they desired was, to find a spot where there was a gap
in the bed of reeds through which they could at least catch a glimpse of
the various beasts drinking, and they were in the very act of turning to
seek such a spot when von Schalckenberg laid his hand on Mildmay's arm,
whispering excitedly--

"My friend, look there."

Mildmay glanced in the direction indicated and saw, standing on the very
crest of the bank over which they had just passed, a lion, that in the
deceptive starlight appeared to be of enormous proportions. He was
within fifteen feet of them, but it is doubtful whether he saw them, for
they were below him and within the shadow of the reeds; but if he did
not see them it was quite certain that he winded them, for he was gazing
straight toward them, his eyes shining in the darkness like twin moons,
and he was slowly sweeping his tail from side to side, as though asking
himself what strange beings were these whose scent now greeted his
nostrils for probably the first time in his life. But there was no time
to be lost, for even as von Schalckenberg whispered to Mildmay, "You
take him!" the beast crouched in preparation for a spring.

Mildmay wasted no time in argument upon questions of hunting etiquette;
he quite understood that the professor was offering him first shot as
some trifling recognition of the service so lately rendered, and,
throwing up his rifle to his shoulder, he aimed, as well as the darkness
would permit, immediately between but an inch or two above the level of
the eyes, and pulled the trigger. The click of the hammer was instantly
followed by the thud of the b