Part 34 (1/2)

Yes, he did see, just at that instant, and started back in astonishment. Then his face took on a fierce look and he gave a roar which could be heard for miles around.

Crack! It was the report of d.i.c.k's pistol, but the youth was nervous, and the bullet merely glanced along the lion's body, doing little or no damage. The beast roared again, then crouched down and prepared to leap upon the youth.

But the wounded forepaw was a hindrance to the lion's movements, and he began to crawl along the hollow's edge, seeking a better point from which to make a leap.

Then d.i.c.k's pistol spoke up a second time.

This shot was a far better one, and the bullet pa.s.sed directly through the knee-joint of the lion's left forepaw. He was now wounded in both fore limbs, and set up a roar which seemed to fairly make the jungle tremble. Twice he started to leap down into the hollow, but each time retreated to shake one wounded limb after another into the air with whines of pain and distress.

As soon as the great beast reappeared once more d.i.c.k continued his firing. Soon his pistol was empty, but the lion had not been hit again. In nervous haste the lad started to re-load only to find that his cartridge box was empty.

”Get out!” he yelled at the lion, and threw a stone at the beast.

But the lion was now determined to descend into the hollow, and paused only to calculate a sure leap to the boy's head.

But that pause, brief as it was, was fatal to the calculations of the monarch of the jungle. From his rear came two shots in rapid succession, each hitting him in a vulnerable portion of his body.

He leaped up into the air, rolled over on the edge of the hollow, and then came down, head first, just grazing d.i.c.k's arm, and landing at the boy's feet, stone dead.

”Hurrah! I reckon I hit him!” came in Tom Rover's voice.

”And so did I,” came from Randolph Rover.

”But he has disappeared.”

”This way, Tom!” cried d.i.c.k, with all the strength he could command. He was shaking like a reed in the wind and all of the color had deserted his face.

”It's d.i.c.k!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Tom. ”I told you that I had heard several pistol shots.”

Soon Tom and Mr. Rover presented themselves at the top of the hollow, followed by Aleck and Cujo. The latter procured a rope made of twisted vines, and by this d.i.c.k was raised up without much difficulty.

CHAPTER XXVI

THE LAST OF JOSIAH CRABTREE

All listened intently to the story d.i.c.k had to tell, and he had not yet finished when d.i.c.k Chester presented himself, having been attracted to the vicinity by the roars of the lion and the various pistol and gun shots.

”This Crabtree must certainly be as bad as you represent,” he said. ”I will have a talk with him when I get back to our camp.”

”It won't be necessary for you to talk to him,” answered d.i.c.k grimly. ”If you'll allow me, I'll do the talking.”

”All right,” grinned the Yale student. ”Do, as you please. We are a getting tired of him.”

Chester and Cujo descended into the hollow to examine the lion.

There was a bullet in his right foreleg which Chester proved had come from his rifle. ”He must be the beast Frank Rand and I fired at from across the lake. Probably he had his home in the hollow and limped over to it during the night.”

”In that case you are ent.i.tled to your fair share of the meat--if you wish any,” said Randolph Rover with a smile. ”But I think the pelt goes to Tom, for he fired the shot that was really fatal.” And that skin did go to Tom, and lies on his parlor floor at home today.

”Several of the students from Yale had been out on a long tour the afternoon before, in the direction, of the mountain, and they had reported meeting several natives who had seen King Susko. He was reported to have but half a dozen of his tribe with him, including a fellow known as Poison Eye.