ents," said the Major.

"Yes, sir," said Bremen, "that was her death-shot, I should think; but
she is not dead yet, and may give us a great deal of trouble."

They followed her as fast as they could on foot, and the dogs were soon
upon her again; the animal continued to roar, and always from the same
spot; so that it was evident she was severely wounded. Alexander and
the Major reserved their fire, and approached to where the dogs were
baying, not twenty yards from the jungle. Another roar was given, and
suddenly the body of the lioness rushed through the air, right in the
direction where they stood; she passed, however, between them, and when
she reached the ground, she fell on her side quite dead. It was her
last expiring effort, and she had died in the attempt. Alexander and
the Major, who were both ready to fire, lowered their rifles when they
perceived that she was dead.

"Well," said the Major, "I will say that when I first saw her tail, I
was more frightened than I was just now, when she made the spring; I was
so taken by surprise."

"I don't doubt it. She is a very large animal, and will make a handsome
companion to the lion. If we live and do well, and get home to England
again, I will have her stuffed along with him, and put them in the same
case."

"I trust you will, and that I shall come and see them," replied the
Major.

"I am sure I do, from my heart, my good fellow. I am very much pleased
at our having killed both these beasts, without Swinton being with us,
as he would have been persuading us to leave them alone."

"And he would have done very right," replied the Major. "We are two
naughty boys, and shall be well scolded when we go back."

"Which I vote we do now. I think we have done quite enough for to-day."

"Yes, indeed," replied the Major, mounting his horse; "enough to talk of
all our lives. Now let us gallop home, and say nothing about having
killed the lions until the Hottentots bring them to the caravan."

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

"Well, what sport have you had?" was Swinton's first question when he
was joined by Alexander and the Major. Replied the latter--"Pretty
well; we saw an antelope quite new to us, which we tried very hard to
shoot, but were prevented by an unexpected meeting with a lioness." The
Major then gave an account of his perceiving the tail of the lioness,
and his rapid retreat.

"I am very glad to hear that you were so prudent, Major; it would have
b