rley, and Wilmore below, while Nick, standing on the platform,
received him from their hands. But the strength of the Hottentot was in
some measure restored, and he was able to render some help himself,
which greatly facilitated the job. As soon as Omatoko had been
consigned to his bed, Lion was in like manner passed up; but he was by
no means so conformable as his predecessor had been, and if anybody but
Frank had had charge of his head and shoulders, they might have found
their undertaking an unpleasant one.

However, in process of time he was got up, and secured by a thong to one
of the poles in the centre of the platform. The guns came next, and
lastly their owners. It was quite dark before their arrangements were
completed, and before ten minutes had elapsed, the whole of the party
were fast asleep.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURS--FREE AND EASY VISITORS--PROPOSED DEPARTURE--
JOURNEY RESUMED--AN AFRICAN STORM--A NECK AND NECK STRUGGLE.

The sun was high in the heavens before any of the party were roused from
their slumbers. Then the doctor was the first to wake up, and his
thoughts were at once turned to his patient. He was pleased to find him
in a most satisfactory condition. His skin was cool, and his pulse,
though still low, was steadily recovering its tone. As for Frank and
Ernest--they had no sooner opened their eyes, than they hurried off to
the pool, which lay two or three hundred yards off, to enjoy a
refreshing bath. They were followed shortly afterwards by Lavie and
Omatoko, the latter having contrived to descend from his bedchamber by
the help of the doctor's arm, and to walk, though very slowly, as far as
the waterside.

Having completed their ablutions, the lads set about preparing the
breakfast; which, it was agreed, was to be eaten under the shade of the
acacias.

"I think Omatoko must be mistaken about the wild animals," observed
Frank. "I slept as sound as a top, and so did Lion; and if there had
been any of his namesakes about, or tigers either, he would have been
pretty sure to give us notice."

"You forget how tired we were, Frank; Lion as well as ourselves," said
the doctor. "Unless they made a very great uproar we should probably
not hear them."

"What does Omatoko say?" suggested Warley. "Does he think there were
wild beasts about?"

The Hottentot nodded. "One, two lion," he said, pointing to some
footprints in the short grass round the pool. "One, two lion