Part 24 (2/2)
I do not knohy they did not spring on me Surely no two lions ever contemplated easier quarry No victim in the arena ever watched the weapons of death more helplessly I suppose my hour had not come
Perhaps the lions, well used to white e weapons, doubted the wisdorowled again Hernote that satisfied her and sentdown behind the hillock, and she followed The next I saw of the low bushes and heading for jungle on the near horizon faster than I had iined lions could travel
That ended my desire for further exercise and solitude Iafraid would letto persuade Fred Oakes that I had truly seen lions
”Hyenas!” he said with the air of an old hunter, to which he was quite entitled, but that soothed me all the less for that
”More likely jackals,” said Will; and he was just as much as Fred entitled to an opinion
While I was asserting the facts with increasing anger, and they were a themselves with a hundred-and-one ridiculous reasons for disbelieving me, Lady Saffren Waldon came She had, as usual, attracted to herself able assistance; a settler's ox-cart brought her belongings, and she and her maid rode in hammocks borne by porters impressed from heaven knehere It was not far from the station, but she was the type of hus That type is not by any means always female, but the woest croppers on occasion
She was determined now, mistress of the situation and of her plans
She left to herabout accommodations; (there was little left to choose from, and all was bare and bad); dismissed the obsequious settler and his porters with perfunctory thanks that left hiht toward us with the s perfectly at ease that surprise was disarmed, and the rudeness we all three intended died stillborn
”What do you think of the country?” she asked ”Men like it as a rule
Women detest it, and who can blame them? No comfort--no manners--no companionshi+p--noor anybody yet? That always aht her a chair There was nothing else one could do There is alht in that part of East Africa; until dark there is scarcely a hint that the day is waning She sat with us for twenty or thirtyus from aabove, until the sun went doith alas turned off, and in a moment we could scarcely see one another's faces
Then came the proprietor to the door, with his best ex-e of all earth's ways, their reason and their trend
”All in!” he called ”All inside at once! No guest is allowed after dark on the veranda! All inside! Supper presently!”
”Pah!” re ”What is it about soo in”
She came nearer until she stood between the three of us, so close that I could see her dia that I suspected betrayed excitement
”I must speak with you three men! Listen! I know this place The roonifying every whisper! There is only one suitable place--the -roo in there all night People go to bed early; they prefer to drink in their bedroo a crowd! I shall provide a light supper, and one up-stairs
Then come down and talk with me Its important! Be sure and come!”
She did not wait for an answer but led the way into the hotel There was no hall The door led straight into the dining-roo places at the two long tables, made further ith her impossible, even if she had not hurried up-stairs to her room ”What do you make of it--of her? Isn't she the limit?”
The words were scarcely out of Will's mouth when a roar that made the dishes rattle broke and echoed and rumbled in the street outside The instant it died down another followed it--then three or four--then a dozen all at once There ca of heavy feet, like the sound of cattle co homeward Yet no cattle--no buffaloes ever roared that way
”Now you knohy I ordered you all inside,” grinned the ex-missionary owner of the place I divined on the instant that this was his habit, to stand by the door before supper and say just those words to the last arrivals I had a vision of hi one jest, or ht
”Lions?” I asked, hating to take the bait, yet curious beyond power to resist
”Certainly they're lions! Did you think you were drealad you caain now?