e light from the fire flickered on one of his arms, and he knew
that he must be fast asleep. He had not the cruelty to awaken him, and
indeed after he got accustomed to the hideous chorus raised by the
hyenas and jackals, his own eyes began to close. He could just make out
Fangs by the light of the fire, crouching down close to the trunk, and
every now and then giving vent by a low growl to his anger as he watched
the savage creatures devouring the snake on which he had intended to
breakfast.

Percy had scarcely shut his eyes, when he was startled by hearing a
terrific roar, and looking towards where the hyenas and jackals had been
holding their revels, he saw them scampering away in every direction,
while the glare of the fire fell on the head and shoulders of an
enormous lion. The king of brutes, however, looked disappointed at
finding only a few scraps of a mangled snake, instead of the repast he
expected, and not deigning to touch the leavings of the jackals, he
advanced a short distance towards the tree. Afraid to approach nearer
the fire, he stopped and began to roar loudly.

"Roar away, old fellow," cried Percy. "You'll not get hold of us."

That was true enough so far as he and Denis and Raff were concerned, but
the case was very different with regard to poor Fangs. Between him and
the lion there was only a small fire, which the latter might spring over
at a single bound. He prudently neither barked nor growled, but shrank
closer and closer to the trunk, while the lion stood within a dozen
yards of him, every now and then uttering a terrific roar.

To Percy's surprise, Denis slept on in spite of the roaring. He was
probably dreaming about it, but it had not the effect of awakening him.
Percy thought of shooting the lion and trying to save Fangs, but found
that he could not fire without changing his position, and he was afraid,
in attempting to do so, that he might fall to the ground, he therefore
contented himself with watching the lion. The animal evidently
suspected that there was something up the tree, and having roared for
some minutes, he began to circle round it, keeping, however, at a
respectful distance. Would Fangs escape his scrutiny? Percy could no
longer see the dog, for the fire was getting low, and he was concealed
by the roots. Presently there was the sound of a rush, of a heavy blow
struck, but not a growl nor a cry was heard, and then the lion bounded
off with something in his mou