y could, with the
hard ground for their beds, and the starry heavens overhead. A piece of
canvas let down from the side of the waggon served somewhat to screen
the young Englishmen--who were supposed to be more luxuriously inclined
than the rest of the party--from the chilly night air, while the mound
also contributed to protect the camp.

Denis and Lionel did not disdain to creep in beside them, while
Hendricks occupied his usual berth inside his waggon. In a few minutes
all voices were hushed, but though Crawford and Percy did not speak, the
strangeness of the scene prevented them from going to sleep. Some time
had passed, and they were at length beginning to get a little drowsy,
when they were startled by a terrific roar, which seemed to come almost
from above them. Starting up, and knocking their heads against the
bottom of the waggon as they did so, in a very unpleasant fashion, they
scrambled out from their sleeping-place, their impulse being to meet the
danger, whatever it might be, on their feet, and to look about them.
They were followed by Denis and Lionel, who had naturally been awakened
by the roaring.

"What is it? Where is it?" asked Percy Broderick.

"Look there," answered Denis, pointing to the top of the mound, where,
in the dim light, the outlines could be seen clearly defined against the
sky, of two lions. The monsters, placing their heads to the ground,
again sent forth a roar, which sounded fearfully loud in the silent
night air. The hideous uproar they made at length aroused Hendricks,
who, turning out of his berth, seized his gun, ever ready at hand, and
stepped a few paces from the camp towards them. The rest of the men in
camp had sprung to their feet, and held their rifles ready for instant
action, while the dogs, rushing to the front, continued barking in
varied tones, though they showed no inclination to venture beyond the
protection of their masters. The lions, however, did not advance, but
continued standing in the position in which they had at first been seen,
contenting themselves with uttering an occasional roar, as if to terrify
the occupants before making a final rush into their midst. The hunters,
however, were too well accustomed to encounters with lions to be
alarmed, let them roar ever so loudly; still a fight with a couple at
night would not be free of danger, should either of them be wounded and
not killed outright. It would indeed be no easy matter to bring them
do