Part 17 (2/2)

The dog took the direction in which his ; but the lion apparently did not perceive the hunters until he ithin range of their rifles

”Now, my lads, shohat you can do!” cried Hendricks ”I will reserve my fire in case you should miss, you couldn't have a finer opportunity

Denis, do you fire first”

Denis, highly pleased, raised his rifle and fired His bullet razed the back of the lion, which at that instant, taking alarsthat they would perhaps encounter the lioness and coly they obeyed, and although even Fangs, the bravest, would not have ventured to encounter the lion face to face, they were all eager to go in chase of hi down the antelope, they now returned to camp As it was very probable that the lion would cohted The horses were secured to the waggon wheels, and the oxen were brought in and also ood appetites by the travellers

Scarcely was supper concluded when several roars were heard, some on one side at a short distance, some on the other, close to the camp

Directly afterwards the horrid chorus was increased by the howl of hyenas and the crying of jackals,the journey There was no necessity to order the Hottentots and Kaffirs to be on the watch; for they all well knew the risk they ran of an attack froer The men replied to the roars by shrieks and cries, every now and then firing off a rifle in the direction fro that three of the party were sufficient to keep watch, ordered the reon, and thus the first part of the night passed unpleasantly by

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A SUCCESSION OF DISASTERS

In spite of the wild uproar uards began to doze after they had been on the watch two or three hours Crawford had undertaken to keep watch while Hendricks turned in Now that he was getting accustomed to the country, he was anxious to take a more active part than he had hitherto done

With rifle in hand, he continued walking up and down, keeping inside the fires and watching to see that all had sufficient fuel to cause the flahtly Both the horses and oxen were naturally restless while within sound of their dreaded enemies

He had stopped to look out, when, at the end of the waggon farthest from that to which the horses were secured, he heard the traht of the fire, he saw one of the away He instantly called to some of the men to secure the animal, but they either did not hear, or did not understand him, and it was some time before any of them were on their feet, when the horse had disappeared in the darkness

”Youit back,” he shouted, and was hiolo, who had been awakened, stopped hilish words as he could speak, that he would run a great risk of being attacked himself, and would to a certainty not recover the aniht

”If he escapes the lions, he ,” said the Kaffir

Crawford, acknowledging the wisdo out occasionally, however, in the hopes of seeing the horse return After soolo touched him on the arm

”Hark! do you hear that sound?” he asked

Sorowls reached their ears

”The horse is dead, and the lions are gnawing his bones They are growling at the hyenas and jackals who have gathered round to join in the feast, but the lions won't let therowls of the lions was added the howling, shrieking, chattering, and barking of the hyenas,a most unearthly chorus

”Come, let us try and kill the brutes,” said Denis, and he and Crawford walked out a few yards froh they fired several shots, no effect was produced; and U to them to come back, lest a lion should pounce upon them, they returned to the camp The sound of the shots had awakened Hendricks, which the howlings of the wild beasts had failed to do He rated Denis and Crawford for their folly in leaving the caht have been seized in the darkness by one of those savage brutes, ould not dare to face you in daylight,” he observed ”Never, if you can help it in these wilds, be away at night fro that Crawford's horse wasbones and a few pieces of skin were discovered, the sole remains of the unfortunate animal, the rest had been carried off by beasts of prey As soon as the oxen had been watered and had had tirass, the party inspanned and proceeded on their journey

Fortunately Hendricks had a couple of spare horses, one of which he lent Crawford, ould otherwise have had to march on foot, or have been indebted to his friends, ould undoubtedly have insisted on his getting into their saddles while they walked For three days they travelled on as fast as the oxen could et as far as possible fro a circuitous route, as he had at first intended, through a fertile and thickly inhabited district, proceeded on a direct line across a wild and barren region hich he was but little acquainted It abounded, however, he knew, in game, and he hoped that water, sufficient for the wants of the oxen and horses, would be found