s, he must have met the lion in the dark;" and,
"Oh, Hans! Hans!" he shouted:

"Here so," replied a voice from the summit of the kloof; "is that
Bernhard?"

"Yes, Hans: are you hurt?"

"No, but the lion is: he is dying in a bush not far off. I don't like
to move, as I can't see him: could you bring some lighted branches
here?"

'Nquane, the Kaffir, and Bernhard each seized a large blazing branch,
and grasping their guns, ascended the steep slope to the position
occupied by Hans.

"Up this way," said Hans, "the lion is to your right, and I think dead;
but we had better not go near him till we are certain. Now give me a
branch, I can light this grass, and go look for him." Saying this, Hans
advanced to some bushes and cast a handful of blazing grass before him.
"He's dead," exclaimed Hans, "so come, and we will skin him: he's a fine
fellow!"

"Come down to the camp and eat first, Hans," urged Bernhard, "and tell
us where you have been, then come and skin the lion."

"No, business first," exclaimed Hans. "The jackalls might spoil the
skin in a few minutes, and before the lion was cold; so we will first
free him of his coat, then I will eat."

It took Hans and his two companions only a short time to divest the lion
of its skin, when the three returned to camp, where the new-comer was
heartily welcomed, and where he was soon fully occupied in making a meal
from the remains of the supper left by his companions. Hans Sterk, as
he sat quietly eating his meal with an appetite that seemed to indicate
a long previous fast, did not give one the idea of a very remarkable
man. He was quite young--probably not more than two-and-twenty, and not
of very great size; he was, however, what is called well put together,
and seemed more framed for activity than strength; his eyes were
deep-set and small, with that earnest look about them which seemed to
plainly indicate that they saw a great deal more than most eyes. His
companions seemed quite to understand Hans' peculiarities, for they did
not address a word to him whilst he was eating, being fully aware that
had they done so they would have obtained no answer. When, however, he
had completely satisfied his hunger, Bernhard said--

"What have you seen and done, Hans? and why are you so late? We feared
you had lost the line for our resting-place before it got dark, and
would not reach us to-night."

"Lost the line," replied Hans; "that was not easy, considering you
st