ed Rennie, who leaped backward, but the
dog was instantly killed with a flashing pat from the royal paw. At the
same moment a volley was fired by the Hottentots from the heights.
Unfortunately the position of Rennie rendered it impossible for the
Mullers or any of the other expert shots to fire.

Whether the volley had taken effect was uncertain, but it at all events
turned the lion from his purpose. He wheeled round, and, abandoning the
bush, took to a piece of open ground, across which the hunters and dogs
followed him up hotly.

The lion now took refuge in a small copse on a slight eminence.
Diederik and Christian Muller were in advance, Groot Willem on his
mighty charger came next. Van Dyk was running neck and neck with Jerry
Goldboy, who flourished the blunderbuss over his head and yelled like a
very demon. It was obvious that he was mad for the time being. The
rest came up in a confused body, many of the men on foot having kept up
with the horsemen.

The Rennies, having by that time become wiser, gave up their reckless
proceedings, and allowed Christian Muller, who was tacitly acknowledged
the leader of the party, to direct. He gave the signal to dismount when
within a short distance of the copse, and ordered the horses to be tied
together as the different riders came up. This was quickly done, and of
course all possibility of retreat was thus cut off. The plan was to
advance in a body up the slope, leaving the horses in charge of the
Hottentots.

The preparations did not take long, but before they were completed a
growl was heard, then a terrific roar, and the lion, who had made up his
mind to act on the offensive, burst from the thicket and bore down on
the party, his eyeballs glaring with rage. Being thus taken by surprise
they were unprepared. His motion was so rapid that no one could take
aim--except, indeed, Jerry, who discharged his piece at the sky, and,
losing his balance, fell back with a wild halloo. Selecting one of the
horses, the lion darted furiously at it. The affrighted animal sprang
forward, and, in so doing, wheeled all the other horses violently round.
The lion missed his aim, but faced about and crouched at a distance of
only ten yards for another spring. It was a terrible moment! While the
monster was meditating on which victim he should leap, Christian Muller
was taking quick but deadly aim. If he should merely wound the brute,
certain death to some one of the party would