Sultan, as I call him. I have had a
good deal of practice lately."

"That is well," said Ella. "The country will change in a few minutes
now, and we shall be out of the bush. The giraffe is already abating
his speed. We shall gain on him every minute now."

Ella's words were soon made good. As they emerged from the woody cover,
the animal's strength began perceptibly to fail. They were soon within
two hundred yards of him, and drawing closer with every stride of their
horses. Ella now bent her bow, and took an arrow from the quiver slung
behind her, while Warley disengaged his rifle and cocked it. When they
had approached within fifty yards, he thought he might venture to fire.
Even should he fail in mortally wounding the camelopard, he was pretty
sure of hitting it somewhere, and the loss of blood would gradually
diminish the creature's strength. He levelled accordingly, and drew the
trigger, just as they were nearing a pile of rocks on which a quantity
of bushes were growing. The moment after the report of his piece had
been heard, the animal suddenly recoiled, and seemed to be on the point
of falling. Ernest pushed on to finish it with a second shot, but as he
rode up abreast of it, a fierce roar burst from behind an angle of rock,
and a lion of the largest size sprang on the back of the giraffe.
Almost immediately afterwards a second appeared, and seized the
unfortunate animal in the neck and chest. Under the pressure of their
weight it was unable to continue its flight. It plunged violently,
making desperate, but wholly ineffectual, efforts to shake off its
tormentors, and tearing up the earth with its hoofs. But in less time
than it takes to tell it, the giraffe was borne to the ground, feebly
gasping out its life under the merciless claws and teeth of its
assailants.

Meanwhile the horses had been almost as much terrified by the sudden
apparition of the monarchs of the forest, as the camelopard itself.
That which carried Ella rushed frantically off at a speed, which she was
at first unable to check. Warley's steed sprang on one side, with an
abruptness which dislodged its rider, who had dropped the rein,
preparing for a second shot. Warley was thrown to the ground, his rifle
falling several yards in advance of him; and the frightened animal
galloped off at its utmost speed. Ernest was left in a most dangerous
position. The lions having torn their prey down, did not proceed
immediately to dev