very midst of
the cattle-yard, an enormous lion, his head lifted up proudly, while his
huge paws were placed on one of the animals he had struck down. Never
had I seen so magnificent a creature--his vast mane covering his neck
and shoulders, while his tail waved to and fro as a signal of defiance,
looking up as if he saw an enemy approaching. The other animals,
terror-stricken, were trying to force their way out of the yard. I
could see no one. What had become of Jack and Timbo I could not tell.
They could not have deserted their posts, for both had given too many
proofs of courage to make me suppose so. Calling to David, who was yet
sleeping soundly, I seized my gun; but when I returned, the lion had
gone, with the animal he had struck down. David and I rushed out of the
hut. At that moment there were several shots. Looking out in the
direction from which the roars had previously come, I saw the lion
bounding away along the hill, still apparently unwounded.

"Has he gone? has he gone?" I heard Leo and Natty shouting out. "Yes,
yes! and he has carried off our little gemsbok!"

"But where are Jack and Timbo?" I asked. "How was it they let the
creature come in?"

"They heard some shots in the distance, and thinking that they were
fired as signals by Stanley and his party, they were just setting off to
meet them, and the lion must have taken that opportunity of coming into
our camp. They had not got far, and must have caught sight of the lion
as he was making his escape. It is a mercy the girls are safe!"

As they were speaking, Jack and Timbo came back. "Well, I never did
think he was going to play us so scurvy a trick," exclaimed Jack, "or we
would not have left the camp. But what do you fancy those shots can
mean, Mr Crawford?"

Both David and I agreed, however, that they were probably fired by
Stanley or his companions, either at some animals, or as a signal to
give us notice of their return; and we therefore begged Jack and Timbo
to proceed as they had purposed, while we remained on the watch for the
lion, should he venture to come back. Kate and Bella now came out of
their hut, and great was their grief at hearing of the loss of one of
their pets--the most promising, indeed, of all, for in a few days it had
become so thoroughly tame, that it would follow them about like a lamb.
They, like us, had been kept awake the greater part of the night, and,
owing to this, had not been aroused by the sound