nd, as at times strong blasts of hot air broke out, they
reinforced the zareba with pickets which the young negro whittled with
Gebhr's sword and stuck in the ground. This precaution was not at all
superfluous, as a powerful whirlwind could scatter the thorny boughs
with which the zareba was constructed and facilitate an attack by
beasts of prey.

However, immediately after sunset the wind ceased, and instead, the air
became sultry and heavy. Through the rifts in the clouds the stars
glittered here and there, but afterwards the night became so utterly
dark that one could not see a step ahead. The little wanderers grouped
about the fire, while their ears were assailed by the loud cries and
shrieks of monkeys who in the adjacent forest created a veritable
bedlam. This was accompanied by the whining of jackals and by various
other voices in which could be recognized uneasiness and fright before
something which under the cover of darkness threatened every living
being in the wilderness.

Suddenly the voices subsided for in the dusky depths resounded the
groans of a lion. The horses, which were pastured at some distance on
the young jungle, began to approach the fire, starting up suddenly on
their fettered fore legs, while the hair on Saba, who usually was so
brave, bristled, and with tail curled under him, he nestled close to
the people, evidently seeking their protection.

The groaning again resounded, as though it came from under the ground;
deep, heavy, strained, as if the beast with difficulty drew it from its
powerful lungs. It proceeded lowly over the ground, alternately
increased and subsided, passing at times into a hollow, prodigiously
mournful moan.

"Kali, throw fuel into the fire," commanded Stas.

The negro threw upon the camp-fire an armful of boughs so hastily that
at first whole sheaves of sparks burst out, after which a high flame
shot up.

"Stas, the lion will not attack us, will he?" whispered Nell, pulling
the boy by the sleeve.

"No, he will not attack us. See how high the zareba is."

And speaking thus, he actually believed that danger did not threaten
them, but he was alarmed about the horses, which pressed more and more
closely to the fence and might trample it down.

In the meantime the groans changed into the protracted, thunderous roar
by which all living creatures are struck with terror, and the nerves of
people, who do not know what fear is, shake, just as the window-panes
rattle fro