u are sure you saw some
animal about to attack the ponies?"

"Yes, certain," said Mark.

"And you fired at it?"

"Well, yes," said Mark; "you heard me, and came."

"Exactly," said the doctor drily; "but are you sure that the beast,
whatever it was, sprang at you?"

"I saw it rear up as I fired," replied Mark, "and I felt a tremendous
blow on the shoulder. Yes: here's the bruise."

"Yes, my boy," said the doctor quietly, "but that is just such a bruise
as would have been made if you had pulled both triggers of a heavy rifle
at once."

"Well," said Mark quietly, "I have been lying awake almost ever since,
and that's just what I've been fancying. Do you think it was that,
doctor?"

"I feel sure of it, Mark; and what's more, I have been all round the
camp with the Illaka and the two keepers, and even in the moistest place
we can find, there isn't the sign of a lion's spoor."

"Well, that's queer," said Mark, scratching his head. "I don't
understand it. Now I want some breakfast, and I am going to get up."

CHAPTER TEN.

SHAM.

The doctor suggested that after such a broken night it would be as well
to have an early breakfast before they started.

"Yes, capital," cried Mark. "I feel that that is just what I want to
put me right."

"See to it at once, then, Dan," said the doctor. "Tell some of the men
to get you some wood, and I will talk to the bullock drivers. Oh, there
are the two keepers. They will help you to get wood and fetch water.
Mind they get it from a clear part of the river."

"Ay, ay, sir!" said the sailor.

"How wonderfully well that poor fellow begins to look," said the doctor.

"Yes," replied Sir James, laughing; "and he thoroughly deserves the name
of the Handy Mann. He is never happy unless he is doing something--
regularly valeting me and the boys. What do you say to a walk round
while they are preparing breakfast?"

"I am willing," replied the doctor, "and we will take Denham and his men
as we go."

They started off, and before they reached the two long spans of oxen
where they had been turned to graze, Buck Denham's voice was heard
storming at somebody.

"Quarrel, seemingly, captain," said Sir James, smiling.

"Or a fit of bad temper," said the doctor, "because the big fellow's
night, was disturbed. Here, what's the matter, Denham?" he continued,
as they reached the shady pasture where the sleek bullocks were knee
deep in rich grass, evidently laying in a store