r him. Thus advancing a few yards at a time, he
made his way towards the river. His intention was then to continue down
along it until he could find a canoe. He had nearly gained the water
when cries, shrieks, and loud shouts reached his ear, followed by the
sound of fire-arms. Several bullets came whistling close to his head;
to avoid them he sprang behind the trunk of a large tree. Scarcely had
he done so, when he heard close to him the crash of bushes, and a huge
animal bounded by carrying in its jaws what, seen through the gloom,
appeared to be the dead body of a man. He heard a faint cry as if from
a human voice, followed by the continued crash of the underwood as the
creature rushed along the very course he had intended to pursue. Hardly
had it disappeared than the cries and shouts, growing nearer and nearer,
showed him that a number of men from the camp were coming in pursuit of
the animal, and that he could scarcely avoid being discovered. Even if
this should happen, he had reason to be thankful that he had not
attempted to make his escape sooner, or he would in all probability have
met the lion and fallen a victim instead of the man who had been carried
off. He crouched down among the thick roots of the tree, hoping that
even now he might not be discovered; at the same time he felt that it
would be madness to attempt to pursue the course he had intended down
the river, as he should in all probability, if he did so, encounter the
lion which had carried off the man. He waited, his heart beating
quickly. The blacks came on, shouting at the top of their voices to
keep up their courage and to frighten the lion, but did not discover
him. He must now decide what to do, either to return to the camp and
wait for another opportunity or to continue his flight. Every day would
increase his distance from the coast and the difficulties he must
encounter to reach it. The thought occurred to him that he might cross
the river and go down on the opposite bank, though he did not fail to
remember that crocodiles or hippopotami might be lying concealed in its
bed, but he resolved to run the risk rather than again place himself in
the power of the Arabs. Not a moment was to be lost. He sprang from
his place of concealment and ran towards the bank. Scarcely had he
reached it than he heard the men coming back, shouting as before to each
other, for they had not ventured to follow the lion far, knowing that
their companio