aw Hans steadily advancing, it gave a
savage warning growl; but finding that this seemed to have no effect, it
then appeared much puzzled, and as Hans came steadily on, the lion
turned and trotted slowly away from its freshly-slaughtered prey. Hans,
having taken about four or five pounds of meat, and a great portion of
the tongue, walked quietly back again, giving every attention to the
lion, which had trotted about two hundred yards off, and was sitting on
its haunches, watching the cool proceeding of the two-legged creature
that had thus presumed to rob it. When Hans found himself at a
sufficient distance from the lion to know he was safe from a charge, he
turned round, and was about proceeding towards his horses, when a
strange-looking object amongst the reeds attracted his attention. He
had not been able to see what this was, as the object sank down among
the reeds just as he turned, but it seemed to Hans like a human figure.
Bringing his gun to the shoulder, Hans advanced rapidly towards the
spot, in order to discover what the object was, when, to his surprise,
up started three figures from among the grass, and one shouted, "That is
Hans; no other man would rob a lion of his supper."

Hans lowered his gun at this remark, and, to his surprise and delight,
saw that his old companions, Victor and Bernhard, were two of the
figures, and Hotman, a farmer, the third.

Hans ran to his friends, who welcomed him like brothers, and to his
inquiry as to how they happened to be there, they replied that they
heard he was coming up the country, and so they expected him by the old
waggon-track; thus they had come that way with their waggons to shoot
ostriches and other game: that they had outspanned about two miles off,
and were walking round to look for game before the sun set, when they
saw a man standing near the vlei. Believing this might possibly be
Hans, they had determined to try to stalk him. When, however, they saw
that he was going single-handed at the lion, they came on quickly, and
were not far behind him when the lion retreated. Whilst he was watching
the lion, and cutting off the meat from the buffalo, the three hunters
managed to get near him, and to conceal themselves amongst the reeds.

"We will lead the horses to the waggons, Hans. You will come there at
once," said Bernhard. "All the Mensch will be glad to see you on your
return. We all thought you must be dead. You must tell us all about
your advent