other side of the cart, and, looking
beneath it, I saw him raise his head and listen.

"'Lion, Inkoos,' he whispered, 'lion!'

"Jim-Jim also jumped up, and by the faint light I could see that he was
in a very great fright indeed.

"Thinking that it was as well to be prepared for emergencies, I told
Pharaoh to throw wood upon the fire, and woke up Harry, who I verily
believe was capable of sleeping happily through the crack of doom.
He was a little scared at first, but presently the excitement of the
position came home to him, and he grew quite anxious to see his majesty
face to face. I got my rifle handy and gave Harry his--a Westley
Richards falling block, which is a very useful gun for a youth, being
light and yet a good killing rifle, and then we waited.

"For a long time nothing happened, and I began to think that the best
thing we could do would be to go to sleep again, when suddenly I heard
a sound more like a cough than a roar within about twenty yards of
the skerm. We all looked out, but could see nothing; and then followed
another period of suspense. It was very trying to the nerves, this
waiting for an attack that might be developed from any quarter or might
not be developed at all; and though I was an old hand at this sort of
business I was anxious about Harry, for it is wonderful how the presence
of anybody to whom one is attached unnerves a man in moments of danger.
I know, although it was now chilly enough, I could feel the perspiration
running down my nose, and in order to relieve the strain on my attention
employed myself in watching a beetle which appeared to be attracted
by the firelight, and was sitting before it thoughtfully rubbing his
antennae against each other.

"Suddenly, the beetle gave such a jump that he nearly pitched headlong
into the fire, and so did we all--gave jumps, I mean, and no wonder,
for from right under the skerm fence there came a most frightful roar--a
roar that literally made the Scotch cart shake and took the breath out
of me.

"Harry made an exclamation, Jim-Jim howled outright, while the poor
oxen, who were terrified almost out of their hides, shivered and lowed
piteously.

"The night was almost entirely dark now, for the moon had quite set, and
the clouds had covered up the stars, so that the only light we had came
from the fire, which by this time was burning up brightly again. But,
as you know, firelight is absolutely useless to shoot by, it is so
uncertain, and