, looking fixedly at the
Europeans, and evidently not believing the assertion. At length one of
their number, touching a large piece of canvas, which had been thrown on
one side after fashioning the small tent, spoke volubly, often pointing
to the mountain. "The Macomb show master caracal for this," said Luji,
laughing.

"What's a caracal, Wyzinski?" asked Hughes. "Oh, these people call the
leopard by that name; but the real caracal is the lynx or wild cat,"
answered the missionary.

"Ask him where his caracal is, Luji?" said Hughes. The native pointed
to a ledge of rock, high up the mountain-side.

"Well, tell him he shall have it, Luji, if he shows me the leopard.
I'll leave you to the baggage department, Wyzinski, and see whether I
can get the caracal's skin. Take the canvas, Luji, and come along.
Tell him you will give it him if I get a shot at the leopard."

Shouldering his rifle, Hughes moved on, beckoning to the native and Luji
to follow him. The former rose and obeyed, while his comrades remained
squatted before the tent, steadfastly gazing at Wyzinski, their eyes
following his every movement, and so they remained stolidly staring for
hours, before they took their departure.

Wending his way among the men, who were busily employed plucking wild
ducks, and preparing them for the mid-day dinner, pounding up the manioc
flour to make cakes, or looking to the fires, Hughes took his way
towards the mountain, the native guide and Luji following. Hardly had
they left the outskirts of the camp, when the monkey came bounding after
them.

"Let him alone, Luji; you can't drive him away," said Hughes, as with a
leap the mischievous brute ensconced himself on the man's shoulders, the
Macombe looking at the scene in great astonishment.

Toiling up the face of the hill-side, they reached at last the ledge of
rock. It would have been very hazardous to face the leopard with so
small a footing; besides, the animal, of course, had a refuge there.
Making a wide circuit, the party, accompanied by the monkey, gained a
height immediately above the ledge. Posting Luji at a spot where he
judged he might prove useful in case the leopard bolted and the
Hottentot did not, Captain Hughes, lying flat on his face, leaned over
the edge of the precipitous rock, and looked down on to the ledge. It
was a very awkward position, and when far enough over to enable the
hunter to fire, he found himself nearly overbalanced.

The ledg