their formidable tusks, advancing nearer
and nearer, and threatening an attack. Some of the largest males
advanced so close as to make a snatch at Omrah. As for Begum, she kept
behind the Major, hiding herself as much as possible. At last one or two
advanced so close, rising on their hind-legs, that the Major was obliged
to ward them off with his gun, "Point your guns at them," said Swinton,
"if they come too close; but do not fire, I beg you. If we only get from
off this rocky ground to the plain below, we shall probably get rid of
them."

The ground on which they were formed a portion of the rocky hill upon
which they had taken shelter the day of the elephant-hunt; and within
twenty-five yards of them there was an abrupt descent of about four
feet, which joined it to the plain. They had gained half-way, parrying
the animals off as well as they could, as they retreated backward, when
some of the baboons came down from the other side of the rock, so as to
attempt to cut off their retreat, their object evidently being to gain
possession of Begum, whom they considered as belonging to them--and a
captive.

Their situation now became more critical; for the whole herd were
joining the foremost; and the noise they made, and the anger they
expressed, were much greater than before.

"We must fire, I really believe," said the Major, when they heard a
deep, hollow growl, followed up by a roar of some animal, apparently not
very far off. At this sound the baboons halted, and listened in silence;
again the growl was repeated, and followed up by the roar, and the
baboons, at a shriek given by one on the rock, turned round and took to
their heels, much to the delight of our travelers, who had felt the
peculiar difficulty and danger of their situation.

"What animal was that which has frightened them off?" said the Major.

"It was the growl of a leopard," replied Swinton; "we must keep a sharp
look-out; it can't be far off. The leopard is the great enemy of the
baboons. But where is Omrah?"

They all looked round, but the boy was not to be seen. At last he showed
his head above the foot of the rocky hill, where there was a descent of
four feet, as we have mentioned, then sprang up the rock, and began
capering, and imitating the baboons as they came on to the attack.

As they were laughing at him, all at once he stopped, and putting his
hands to his mouth he gave the growl and roar of a leopard, which they
had heard, and then s