any means of defence but his knife and
his faithful dog.

The knife was sharp, so were Duke's teeth, but--

Dyke turned cold at the thought of his position, and involuntarily began
to sweep the plain for signs of danger, knowing, as he did full well,
that beasts of prey always hang about the herds of wild creatures in
their migrations from feeding ground to feeding ground; the lions to
treat the strong as their larder when on their way to water; the hyaenas
and jackals to pick up the infirm and tender young. Then the boy's eyes
were directed to the distant figure of his brother, and his first
thought was to shout to him and ask for ammunition.

But no cry, however piercing, could have reached Emson then, as Dyke
well knew, and acting upon sudden impulse, he ran to his horse to
tighten the girths of his saddle to gallop off after him.

"And if I do," he said to himself, "the minute I am gone, the sneaking
jackals and vultures will appear as if by magic, and begin spoiling the
beautiful meat; Joe will laugh at me first for being a coward, and then
turn angry because I have left the eland for the animals to maul."

Dyke stood with his forehead puckered up, terribly perplexed. He did
not mind the anger, but the thought of Emson thinking that he was too
cowardly to stop alone out there in the plain and keep watch for a few
hours was too much for him, and he rapidly loosened the girths again.

Then came the thought of a family of lions, which had perhaps been
unsuccessful, scenting out the eland, and coming up to find him in that
unprotected state.

It was horrible, and, with a shiver, he tightened up the girths, sprang
upon the cob, pressed its sides, and went off after Emson at a gallop,
followed by Duke, who barked joyously, as if applauding his master's
decision.

Dyke felt lighter hearted and as if every stride took him out of danger,
and he gave a glance round, saw dots here and there in the sky which he
knew were vultures hurrying up to the banquet, and drawing his left
rein, he made Breezy swing round, and rode in a semicircle back to the
eland with teeth set, a frown on his brow, and determination strong: for
he had mastered the feeling of panic that had assailed him, and though
he did not grasp the fact himself, he had made a grand stride in those
few minutes toward manhood.

"Let 'em come," he said bitterly; "I won't run away like that. Why, I
could only have done this if a lion as big as that one we