Part 59 (1/2)
The entrance of their terrible king in such angry mood, by the door, caused the fox-wolves to beat a quick retreat by the ; and the appearance of the horsehtened these cowardly brutes, so that they ran away from the kraal at top speed, and never halted until they were out of sight!
The three hunters could not restrain a laugh; but their tone was suddenly changed by another incident that happened alht with hi back the cattle
During the short halt the party had , these had fastened upon a half-eaten carcass behind the walls; and, being extrery, had stuck to it, even after the horses had seen the lion, until thefor the kraal The shots, the growling of the lion, and the loud wings of the vultures as they flew off affrighted, told the dogs that soht to be present; and, forsaking their pleasantover the walls
They reached the open space in front, just as the lion leaped into the door; and without hesitation the brave noble animals rushed on, and followed him inside the house
For some mo and worrying of the dogs, the growling and roaring of the lion
Then a dull sound followed as of soainst the wall Then came aof bones--the ”purr” of the great brute with its loud rough bass--and then a deep silence The struggle was over This was evident, as the dogs no longer gave tongue Most likely they were killed
The hunters res of intense anxiety
The laugh had died upon their lips, as they listened to those hideous sounds, the signs of the fearful cos by name
They hoped to see thes came not forth--they never ca-continued silence followed the noise of the conflict Von Bloos had been killed
Excited by this new misfortune he almost lost prudence He was about to rush forward to the door, where he ht idea came into the brain of Swartboy; and the Bush out,--
”Baas! baas! we shut hiood sense in this suggestion--there was plausibility in it
Von Bloo from his previous intention, he determined to adopt Swartboy's plan
But hoas it to be executed? The door still hung upon its hinges, as also the -shutter If they could only get hold of these, and shut theht destroy him at their leisure
But how to shut either door orin safety? That was the difficulty that now presented itself
Should they approach either, the lion would be certain to see theed as he noould be sure to spring upon them
Even if they approached on horseback to effect their purpose, they would not be much safer The horses would not stand quiet while they stretched out to lay hold of latch or handle All three of the ani with exciterowl announced his presence there--they would not approach either door or ith sufficient coolness; and their stary beast out upon them
It was clear, then, that to shut either door or ould be an operation of great danger So long as the horseround, and at some distance from the lion, they had no cause to fear; but should they approach near and get entangled a the walls, some one of them would be most likely to fall a victim to the ferocious brute
Low as may be the standard of a Bushman's intellect, there is a species peculiar to him in which he appears to excel In all ht alhly-developed mind of the Caucasian This arises, no doubt, from the keen and frequent exercise of those particular faculties,--keen and frequent, because his very existence often depends on their successful ee ill-shapen head that Swartboy carried on his shoulders, there was an ample stock of brains in it; and a life of keen endeavour to keep his stoht him their exercise At that moment Swartboy's brains came to the relief of the party
”Baas!” he said, endeavouring to restrain the ie, mein baas! Leave it to da ole Bushy to close da door
He do it”
”How?” inquired Von Bloo to wait,--you see”
All three had ridden up together within less than an hundred yards of the kraal Von Bloos of the Bushman