n on such
broken and difficult ground was not easy to carry out, even with the
moon to help them."

"But see, father!" Malchus said, "there are many patches of darkness in
the line, and the lions might surely escape through these."

"It would not be possible, Malchus, to place the parties at equal
distances over such broken ground. Nor are the lions likely to discover
the gaps in the line; they will be far too much terrified by the uproar
and sudden blaze of light to approach the troops. Hark, how they are
roaring! Truly it is a majestic and terrible sound, and I do not
wonder that the wild natives of these mountains regard the animals with
something of the respect which we pay to the gods. And now do you keep
a sharp eye along the foot of the hills. There is no saying how soon the
beasts may break cover."

Slowly the semicircle of light was seen to contract as the soldiers
who formed it moved forward towards the foot of the hill; but although
Malchus kept his eyes strained upon the fringe of trees at its foot, he
could see no signs of movement.

The roaring still continued at intervals, and it was evident that the
beasts inclosed in the arc had descended to the lower slopes of the
hill.

"They may be upon us sooner than you expect, Malchus. Their colour well
nigh matches with that of the sand, and you may not see them until they
are close upon us."

Presently a Nubian soldier standing behind Malchus touched him on the
shoulder and said in a whisper: "There they are!" pointing at the same
time across the plain.

Malchus could for a time see nothing; then he made out some indistinct
forms.

"There are six of them," the general said, "and they are making for this
grove. Get your bows ready."

Malchus could now clearly see the lions approaching. They were advancing
slowly, turning occasionally to look back as if reluctant to quit
the shelter of the hills; and Malchus could hardly resist a start of
uneasiness as one of them suddenly gave vent to a deep, threatening
roar, so menacing and terrible that the very leaves of the trees seemed
to quiver in the light of the moon under its vibrations. The lions
seemed of huge dimensions, especially the leader of the troop, who
stalked with a steady and majestic step at their head. When within fifty
yards of the grove the lions suddenly paused; their leader apparently
scented danger. Again the deep terrible roar rose in the air, answered
by an angry snarling noise on the