beautiful pet. But sleep at
length overcame him, and the image of the ourebi melted before his eyes.

Beyond this Jan could tell little of what happened to him. He was
awakened by a sudden jerking at his wrist, and hearing the antelope
scream. But he had not quite opened his eyes, before he felt himself
dragged violently over the ground.

He thought at first it was Swartboy playing some trick upon him; but as
he passed the fire, he saw by its light that it was a huge black animal
that had seized the ourebi, and was dragging both him and it along.

Of course he then began to scream for help, and caught at everything he
could to keep himself from being carried away. But he could lay hold of
nothing, until he found himself among thick bushes, and these he seized
and held with all his might.

He could not have held out long against the strength of the hyena; but
it was just at that moment that Swartboy came up with his fire-brand,
and beat off the ravisher with a shower of blows.

When they got back to the light of the fire they found that Jan was all
right. But the poor ourebi--it had been sadly mauled, and was now of no
more value than a dead rat.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS.

Von Bloom now reflected that the hyenas were likely to prove a great
pest to him. No meat, nor anything, would be safe from them--even his
very children would be in danger, if left alone in the camp; and no
doubt he would often be compelled to leave them, as he would require the
older ones upon his hunting excursions.

There were other animals to be dreaded still more than the hyenas. Even
during that night they had heard the roaring of lions down by the vley;
and when it was morning, the spoor showed that several of these animals
had drunk at the water.

How could he leave little Trueey--his dear little Trueey--or Jan, who was
not a bit bigger--how could he leave them in an open camp while such
monsters were roving about? He could not think of doing so.

He reflected what course he should pursue. At first he thought of
putting up a house. That would necessarily be a work of time. There was
no good building material convenient. A stone house would cost a great
deal of labour--as the stones would have to be carried nearly a mile,
and in their hands too. That would never do, as Von Bloom might only
remain a short while at that place. He might not find many elephants
there, and of course would be under the necessity