ade up
their minds to add it and its skin to their collection. But the brave
mother's defence of her offspring won the young hunters to her side, and
they had just levelled their rifles for a deadly shot at the lion, when
it took them unawares, making a sudden spring, meaning to seize the
antelope on the shoulder; but she had twisted a little round, so that
the great cat threw itself right upon the two keen points, which passed
completely through its body.

At the same moment the little antelope dashed away, and there was a
horrible struggle going on upon the patch of grass, the lion growling
and snarling hideously as it struck at the antelope, and then strove to
get free from the horns which the swart vitpense dragged out, and then
stood up shivering by its assailant, which, far from thinking of
attacking again, lay upon its side, biting the grass and tearing at the
ground in its impotent fury.

Dick would have fired, but the monster had evidently received its death
wound; and it was well he and his brother reserved their charges, for,
as the injured lion lay wallowing in its blood, making the rocks echo to
its agonised roar, and as the poor torn antelope stood shivering and
bleeding there, another fierce roar was heard, and a second lion bounded
into the depression, crouched, and sprang.

But quick as he was, the wounded antelope was quicker. Dropping upon
her knees, her head was lowered, and the second lion leaped right upon
her horns, dragging itself back, spitting and snarling with rage and
pain, and then rolling over with a couple of bullets through its
shoulder.

The boys loaded, and fired again at the second lion, which, though half
paralysed, strove furiously to get at its aggressors; but in vain, for a
third bullet made it roll over dead.

The first lion was already at its last gasp, and there was no longer any
need for caution; so, running forward, Dick made for the black antelope
that was lying upon its side, horribly torn, and with its eyes fast
glazing; for the weight of the second lion in its bound upon her horns
had dislocated her neck.

"Poor creature!" cried Dick. "Oh, Jack, I'd give something to be able
to bring the poor thing back to life."

"Why, Dick?" asked his father, who had heard the firing and ran with the
General to join them. "Yes," he said, when he had heard his sons'
narrative; "poor brave creature! I would gladly see it bounding over
the plains again. Why, boys, you are gro