wn at the distance they were off.

"We must send these brutes away, or they'll give us no time for sleep,"
said Hendricks, and he summoned Umgolo and another experienced hunter to
his side. Ordering the other men to keep back the dogs, he slowly
advanced with his two companions towards the foot of the mound. Denis
and Lionel, who was well able to use the small rifle his friend had
procured for him, with Percy and Crawford, kept behind as a reserve, but
Hendricks had ordered them on no account to fire, unless by chance the
lions should break through and come down upon them.

Slowly the hunters advanced up the mound: the lions, however, not
appearing to have noticed them, continued roaring as loudly as before,
till suddenly they seemed to become aware that enemies were at hand,
when, instead of springing boldly forward, Percy and his companions, to
their astonishment, saw them retiring as cowardly dogs are apt to do
after barking, then finally turning round, they trotted off until they
were lost to sight at the other side of the mound.

"The brutes often prove poltroons, if courageously met, and so these
have shown themselves," exclaimed Denis. "We shall not be troubled
again to-night by their sweet voices, though we may hear them in the
distance growling and muttering over their disappointment."

In a short time the camp was again quiet, and Denis and Lionel,
accustomed to such adventures, quickly went to sleep, but Percy and
Crawford could not, as before, close their eyes. Every now and then, as
they listened, they heard a low muttering sound coming from a distance.

"What can that curious noise be?" asked Crawford. "I should fancy it
was made by deer; I have heard something like it in England."

"I don't fancy any deer would remain in the neighbourhood with a couple
of hungry lions roaming about," answered Percy. "Perhaps it is made by
monkeys. I'll ask Denis. He was awake a few minutes ago. I say,
Denis, what creatures are making those curious sounds? Just listen for
a minute." Denis was asleep, but on hearing himself called, awoke in an
instant, fancying that something was the matter.

"What curious sounds?" he asked. "Sure I only hear a couple of lions
muttering away as the beasts have a fancy for doing at night when they
want their suppers, and haven't yet found anything to eat. There now go
to sleep, and don't be bothering a fellow by waking him out of his first
nap; you'll soon get accustomed t