In a very few minutes the
change was complete, and the black mane of the lion so completely
covered his features, that it was scarcely possible to distinguish what
was the colour of the skin beneath. Solon sat watching the whole
process with great interest. I thus once more appeared in my negro
shirt, with bare feet and head. We all then crept out of the hut. No
sound was heard. The stars told us the direction we were to take.
Alfred knew of a well-beaten native path which led eastward. We crept
on cautiously along it till we were out of hearing of the village, and
then we all ran on as fast as our legs could carry us. It mattered
little how tired we might be at the end of our journey, provided we
could get in safety on board the _Star_. We had had a good supper, so
that we had not to stop for feeding. Before sunrise, we had made good,
I believe, full twenty miles, perhaps still more. We were not likely to
be pursued, but still we pushed on. At length, when the sun rose high,
we stopped to breakfast and rest. Alfred and I had a great deal to talk
about. He had to tell me his adventures, and I had to tell him how I
had found him out.

In the afternoon we were again on foot, pushing on as rapidly as before.
We saw elephants and rhinoceroses and several lions, but while we were
moving on none of them appeared inclined to attack us. At night we
rested with large fires in front of us, and a tall tree with some thick
stakes at our backs. Once we were startled by a bark from Solon and a
fierce growl close to our ears, and there stood a huge black maned lion.
I lifted my rifle to fire and Alfred and Bigg each seized a burning
brand and dashed it in his face. The reception was warmer than he
expected, and with a roar of surprise he bounded off again into the
bush.

We had more difficulty in dealing with the natives the nearer we
approached the coast. They evidently suspected us, and wished to stop
our progress. Bigg talked to them a great deal, but I suspect that they
did not even comprehend his very extraordinary lingo. We, however,
pushed on and made our escape from them. It was some hours after noon
when, from the summit of a high ridge, we caught sight of the sea. We
cast our eyes along the horizon, and thought that we could make out the
_Star_ in the offing. How thankful we felt, and how our spirits rose!
We hurried down the hill; when at the bottom, we were annoyed to find
ourselves close to a large