ran behind a tree, while the herd, neighing shrilly,
disappeared in the forest, and left their monarch alone to his fate.

After a short time Simba and Kalulu were so far recovered, as to be able
to rise up to cut up some of the zebra that had given them so much
trouble and anxiety; then, loaded with meat, they began to retrace their
steps along the same road they had ran so fast in pursuit of him whom
they now heard laughing as he told some points of the story.

At sunset they arrived at the tree whence the unequal race began, where
they found Selim's rifle, which he had unwisely left on the ground, and
proceeding to their bivouac, were all heartily welcomed by Moto and
Abdullah, who had killed a young buffalo cow, whose generous meat was
already cooking on the wooden platform we have in another chapter
described.

They rested that night in the same spot, where they were so secure from
molestation, to enjoy the abundance Nature had furnished them, and to
relieve themselves from the strain the arduous labour of flight had
imposed upon them the last few days.

Continuing their journey at sunrise, they hugged the shore, which they
had thus a chance to observe more closely. They could see the waves of
the surf break on the rocks at the foot of hills rising above them, or
playfully toss themselves in wanton glee on the shingly or the sandy
beach, their curling caps becoming white foam as they met resistance in
the firm land; and at each hollow between the hills they could note the
lazy rillets dribble through the tiny sandy furrows into the lake; or
watch how the greater streams that continually discharged themselves by
every avenue to the great lake, came sailing round the bends of their
course from under the sunless gloom of embracing mangrove bough and
cane; or look in wonder at the remarkably lofty matete, which they ever
and anon passed, whose each stalk was furnished with many a rapier-like
leaf, which rustled gently before the wind, and showed a sheen and
glister which the finest silk they had ever seen could not rival; or
glance with curious eyes at their stalks below, when they came in
contact with the black earth that nourished such profuse vegetation, and
see how, one after another, these receded to rayless shadow and
all-pervading darkness, in which, however, their ears detected the
movements of busy feet, the quick pattering on the earth, the signals
and low triumphant cries of the birds, which seek shelte