t!" ejaculated Sir James.

"Then there's that man Brown."

"He lay down to sleep close beside me, sir. I don't feel much fear
about him."

"And the Hottentot?"

"Well, he was lying just behind Dunn Brown, and my black close to him.
They'll turn up, sir, soon as it is daylight. I'm most skeart about
Keeper Dance. You see, he's quite new to the country, sir.--Hah-h-h!"
continued the man, drawing a deep breath. "That's better! Here's this
morning coming, and welcome as the flowers of May, as the country folks
say in old England. Here, Dan, my lad, we have had a bad night of it,
but we shall want some breakfast all the same. What do you say to
putting the billy on to boil?"

"Ay, ay, mate!" cried the man addressed; and he made for the end of the
nearest waggon to fetch a bucket and the great tin kettle, while the
Illaka joined him on the instant.

"Breakfast!" said Mark, with a look of disgust. "After such a night as
this?"

"Well, sir, it's not to be sneezed at," said the big driver
good-humouredly, "and we shall work all the better at following up the
spoor after a good mug or two of tea. Say, Mr Dean, sir, don't you
feel as if a drop would do you good?"

"Yes; but what a horrid night!"

"Oh, not so very bad, sir. You will soon get used to lions."

"But the poor bullocks?" said Mark.

"Ah, that is a bit of a loss, sir, but it's only nature. Bullocks is
animals as was made to be eaten, and the lions are always on the look
out for their share. Well, gentlemen, I am ready. It's getting broad
daylight now. We are all loaded up. What do you say to a start?"

"No," said the doctor; "no one shall stir until the sun is well up."

"All right, sir; you are boss; but I am getting a bit anxious to make a
start. No bullocks, no more trekking, for a waggon ain't much use stuck
here under the trees."

Meanwhile Mak had been with Dan to fill the water vessels from the
stream, an affluent of the now big river by which they were camped. Mak
had helped to draw together the glowing embers, and had then gone off
again unnoticed, till all at once he was heard to utter a peculiar cry
and come rushing towards them at full speed, as if pursued by one of the
savage beasts that had attacked them in the dark hours of the night.

"Hi--hi--hi--hi!" he yelled, as he came swiftly threading his way
amongst the trees, waving his hands, each armed with a half of the
broken spear, and pointing with them now and then in th