es, and other animals
which I took to be wild boars, joined the assemblage. The elephants, it
appeared to me, kept the other animals in awe, for all stood at a
distance from each other, slaking their thirst after the burning heat of
the day. Many, probably, had come from a distance to seek for water.
The giraffes were the only ones which continued in motion, they
evidently being unwilling to approach while their savage enemies the
lions were in the neighbourhood. Fortunately for them, I was not
possessed with the instincts of a hunter, or I should probably have shot
one of the lions; the female especially, as she kept looking at the
elephant, with her cubs by her side, offering me a mark which I could
not well have missed; but, in the first place, I should have disturbed
my friends, and then I thought to myself, "Why should I kill one of
these creatures, which are but following their natural instincts? and,
as they are not likely to attack us, no good can be attained."

At length I thought that Chickango would fancy some accident had
happened, and might be induced to leave his post to search for me. I
therefore returned to the camp. I had nearly reached it when I fancied
I heard a sound behind me. I turned round, an indefinite feeling of
horror suddenly seizing me. I called to Chickango: he sprang forward.
At that instant I saw a huge creature creeping along through the
underwood. Chickango was by my side. He raised his gun, and gave a
loud shout. The animal sprang up a tree. He fired, and a large panther
fell to the ground. The rest of the party, starting from their beds,
came hurrying up. The creature was not quite dead, but a blow from the
negro's axe quickly finished it. My friends congratulated me on my
narrow escape; and indeed I was thankful that I had been again
preserved. The creature must have remained on the island. Probably the
moonlight prevented it springing on me at once, as it might easily have
done.

It was some time before quiet was restored to the camp. David hurried
back to assure his sisters that there was no danger; for they had
naturally been alarmed by the shot, and the cries of the party as they
sprang up from their sleep. The adventure made us increase the number
of our fires on that side of the camp; while Stanley, declaring he had
had sleep enough, joined us on the watch. As may be supposed, I felt no
inclination to make another trip about the island by myself, lest a
com