heir feet and wide awake. There was just light enough to
distinguish objects dimly when close at hand; but the surrounding woods
resembled a wall of impenetrable darkness. Close to the wagon in which
our hero lay the natives had erected a temporary hut of grass, about six
feet high. On the top of this he saw a dark form, which, by the sound
of his voice, he recognised to be that of a native named Jumbo, who was
more noted for good nature and drollery than for courage. He was
shouting lustily for a percussion-cap. Tom sprang on the top of the hut
and supplied him with several caps, at the same time exclaiming:--

"Hallo! Jumbo, don't make such a row. You'll scare everything away."

"Ho! Me wish um could," said Jumbo, his teeth chattering in his head
with fear as he listened to the dying groans of a poor ox, and heard the
lions growling and roaring beside him. They were not more than fourteen
yards off, but so dark was the night that they could not be seen. The
ox, however, which was a black one, was faintly distinguishable; Tom
Brown therefore aimed, as near as he could guess, about a foot above him
and fired. No result followed. He had evidently missed. While he was
re-loading, the major and Wilkins rushed forward and leaped on the hut,
exclaiming eagerly, "Where are they? have you hit?" Immediately
afterwards, Pearson, Brand, Ogilvie, and Anson rushed up and attempted
to clamber on the hut.

"No room here," cried the major, resisting them, "quite full outside--
inside not safe!"

"But there's no room on the wagon," pleaded Pearson; "the niggers are
clustering on it like monkeys."

"Can't help it," replied the major, "there's not an inch of--"

Here a tremendous roar interrupted him, and a loud report followed, as
Jumbo and Wilkins, having caught sight of "something" near the carcass,
fired simultaneously. Pearson and his companions in trouble vanished
like smoke, while the major, failing to see anything, fired in the
direction of the lions on chance. Tom also fired at what he felt
convinced was the head of a lioness. Still the animals appeared to be
unhurt and indifferent! The sportsmen were busy loading when Tom became
aware, for one instant, that something was moving in the air. Next
moment he was knocked backwards off the hut, head over heels, several
times, having been struck full in the chest by a lion's head. Half
inclined to believe that he was killed he scrambled to his feet, still
hol