th.

No sooner had he gone, than the hyenas and jackals came back, but they
too in a short time, having probably finished the snake, also took their
departure. Percy had too much reason to fear that poor Fangs had become
the prey of the lion; but his thoughts began to wander, and overcome by
fatigue, he was soon fast asleep.

The night passed quietly by. Denis was the first to open his eyes. It
was broad daylight. On looking up through the branches, he observed
that the sky was completely obscured.

"Hallo! we must have had a long snooze," he exclaimed. "Are you all
right, Percy?"

"Somewhat stiff and sore, but I shall feel better when I have stretched
my legs, I daresay," answered Percy. "Dear me! the fire has gone out."

"Then the sooner we get down and light it the better," said Denis.

They descended from their roosting places, Denis carefully handing down
the guns to Percy, who went first. They then helped Raff to reach the
ground.

"Take care! I saw a lion close to the tree, just before I went to
sleep, and he may perhaps be in the neighbourhood," observed Percy.

"You dreamed about one probably, as I did," said Denis, "and a fearful
roaring I fancied he made."

Percy assured him that he had seen a real lion, and described it so
minutely, and the visit of the jackals and hyenas, that Denis was almost
convinced. He was thoroughly so when, on looking towards the spot where
the snake had been, he saw that not a particle of it remained.

"Hallo! what has become of Fangs?" he exclaimed.

"The lion, I fear, has carried him off," answered Percy.

Of this there could be no doubt, for no trace of the poor dog could be
discovered, except a few drops of blood close to the base of the tree
where he had been lying down.

"The chances are, the lion has gone to a distance, and won't come back
at all events until we have lighted a fire," observed Denis, as they set
to work to collect fuel, when without loss of time they cooked another
ostrich egg for breakfast. They then started on their tramp, fancying
that, although there was no sun to guide them, they could easily make
their way by continuing the same course as they had followed on the
previous day.

After going a short distance, still unsuccessful in their search for
water, Percy again suggested that they should keep to the right, so as
to fall in with the waggon. To this Denis agreed, and they accordingly
turned, as they supposed, to the east. As