wards the forest, even had he been
better able to move.

The mias had all the time been watching us, and perhaps, from seeing so
many people together, it thought we were about to attack it. Now, to
our horror, we saw it reach the ground and stand upright, holding on by
one of the boughs, and grinning savagely at us, so we fancied. The Frau
took the gun. "I'll fire! I'll kill him!" she cried out. "He must not
come near to hurt you young people." There was a firmness in her tone I
had seldom heard. She felt herself to be our protectress, and was
prepared to do battle in our behalf. Oliver heard her speak.

"What is it?" he asked in a faint voice.

"Oh, there is a horrid mias near us, and the Frau has taken your gun to
shoot it," answered Grace.

"She cannot aim properly! Let me fire. Don't fire--don't fire, Frau!"
he said, attempting to rise. He was, however, too weak, and again sunk
back on the rock, supported by Grace and me.

With horror we saw the mias let go the bough and begin to walk towards
us on all fours. It advanced towards where a thick shrub grew, when
again catching hold of a bough, it raised itself up on its hind legs.
"Now I'll fire!" cried the Frau. I was afraid even then that had it
been much nearer she would not have hit it, or at all events wounded it
mortally, and I knew that it would become more savage. I cried out to
her to stop till it was nearer, but at that instant she pulled the
trigger. She had missed, we feared, for the mias, uttering a savage
cry, again moved towards us.

"Load again; load again!" Grace and I cried out.

"Bring the gun to me, pray," said Oliver; "I will load it. I can do
that." He felt for his ammunition, which was at his side, but the Frau
took it from him.

"I'll load," she said, beginning to do so. All this time the mias was
advancing. Now and then it turned its head, however, as if to watch
what had become of its family, and this delayed its progress. The Frau,
having had experience of loading at the fort, was soon again ready.
Kneeling down, she raised the fowling-piece to her shoulder. The mias
was still standing upright. At the instant she fired we saw it fall.

"It is hit--it is hit!" cried Grace.

"I have killed the creature!" exclaimed the Frau.

But no, it had merely fallen to its usual walking position, and was once
more approaching us. There appeared no longer time for her to load.
All hope of escaping the savage monster aband