round and remained for a
while motionless.

But Stas did not lower his rifle. He was certain that at any moment
after the horses a shaggy-haired lion or a flat-skulled panther would
appear. But he waited in vain. The horses quieted slowly, and what was
more, Saba after a certain time ceased to scent. Instead, he turned
about a few times on the spot as dogs usually do, lay down, rolled
himself into a ball and closed his eyes. Apparently, if any rapacious
animal had chased the horses, then, having smelt the smoke or seen the
reflection of the fire on the rocks, it had retreated into the distance.

"Something must have frightened them badly," Stas said to Kali, "since
they did not fear to rush by the body of the lion and the men's
corpses."

"Master," answered the boy, "Kali can guess what happened. Many, many
hyenas and jackals entered the ravine to get at the corpses. The horses
ran before them, but the hyenas are not chasing them, for they are
eating Gebhr and those others--"

"That may be, but do you now unsaddle the horses; remove the utensils
and bags and bring them here. Do not fear, for the rifle will protect
you."

"Kali does not fear," answered the boy.

And pushing aside the thorns close by the rocks, he slipped out of the
zareba. In the meantime Nell came out of the tent.

Saba rose at once and, pressing his nose close to her, claimed his
usual caress. But she, extending at first her hand, withdrew it at once
as if with aversion.

"Stas, what has happened?" she asked.

"Nothing. Those two horses came running up. Did their hoof-beats awaken
you?"

"I was awake before then and even wanted to come out of the tent, but--"

"But what?"

"I thought that you might get angry."

"I? At you?"

And Nell raised her eyes and began to gaze at him with a peculiar look
with which she had never eyed him before. Great astonishment stole over
Stas' face, for in her words and gaze he plainly read fear.

"She fears me," he thought.

And in the first moment he felt something like a gleam of satisfaction.
He was flattered by the thought that, after what he had accomplished,
even Nell regarded him not only as a man fully matured, but as a
formidable warrior spreading alarm about. But this lasted only a short
time, for misfortune had developed in him an observing mind and talent;
he discerned, therefore, that in those uneasy eyes of the little girl
could be seen, besides fright, abhorrence, as it were, of what had