here!" cried Dyke, after they had ridden round twice. "I knew it.
While we were talking on one side, they've crept out on the other and
gone off! They're miles away now."

"Exactly!" said Emson; "and that's why the horses are so uneasy. I say,
little un, you don't get on so fast as I should like with your hunting
knowledge. Look at Breezy."

Dyke glanced at his cob, and the little horse showed plainly enough by
its movements that whatever might be its master's opinion, it was
feeling convinced that the lions were pretty close at hand.

"Well, what shall we do--ride through?"

"No," said Emson decidedly, "that would be inviting a charge. I'm
afraid we must separate, or we shall never got a shot. As we ride round
one side, they creep along on the other."

"Did you see them?"

"No, but look there."

Dyke looked where his brother pointed, and saw plainly marked in the
soft sand the footprints of the lions.

"Well, let's separate, then," said the boy eagerly. "I'll mind and not
shoot your way, if you'll take care not to hit me."

"Very good: we'll try, then; but be careful not to fire unless you get a
good sure chance. Look here; this will be the best plan. One of us
must sit fast here while the other rides round."

"But the one who stops will get the best chance, for the game will be
driven towards him. Who's to stop?"

Emson thrust his hand into his pocket, and drew it out again clenched.

"Something or nothing?" he cried.

"Nothing," said Dyke sharply.

"Nothing. Right. Your chance," said Emson.

"Then I'll stay here?"

"Very well then; be ready. I shall ride ahead, and the lions will sneak
round till they find you are here, and then they'll either go right
across, or break cover and gallop off. There's every chance for a shot.
Right forward in the shoulder, mind."

"Won't charge me, will they?"

"Not unless they're wounded," replied Emson.--"Ready?"

"Yes."

Emson rode slowly off, and as he went he kept on crying "Here!" at every
half-dozen yards or so, giving his brother a good idea of his position
and that of the lions too.

Meanwhile Dyke, with his heart beginning to beat heavily, sat facing in
the other direction, both barrels of his rifled piece cocked and pointed
forward, nostrils distended like those of his horse, and, also like the
animal, with every sense on the alert.

"Here--here--here," came from beyond him, and gradually working more and
more to the left, while Dyke