d was to be fed on the journey. Thus reinforced the Caravan
proceeded on its way.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

A TROOP OF LIONS.

The country across which the waggons now made their way differed
somewhat from that over which they had previously passed; it was not so
undulating, and the herbage was shorter and more scanty; the soil was
for the most part sandy; trees were much more abundant, and sometimes
there were thick growths of jungle. Even before leaving the Transvaal
they had at night often heard the roar of lions, but these had not
approached the camp.

"We must look out for lions to-night," Mr Harvey said, when the caravan
encamped near a large pool which in the wet season formed part of a
river, and was now for the most part dry. "We must laager our waggons,
and get as many cattle inside as we can, and must keep the rest close
together, with fires in readiness to light in case of an attack."

"But surely the lions would never venture to attack so large a party?"
Dick said in surprise.

"They will indeed," Mr Harvey answered. "These brutes often hunt
together, as many as twenty or thirty; they are nothing like such
powerful beasts as the North African lions, but they are formidable
enough, and the less we see of them the better. But there are numerous
prints on the sand near the water, and probably large numbers of them
are in the habit of coming to this pool to drink. I expect therefore
that we shall have a stirring night."

As soon as the oxen were unyoked, they were driven a short distance out
to pasture. Five or six of the natives looked after them, while the
remainder set to work to gather sticks and dried wood for the fires.

"I think," Tom said, "that I will go and have a bathe in the pool."

"You will do no such thing," Mr Harvey remarked; "the chances are that
there are half a dozen alligators in that pool--it is just the sort of
place in which they lurk, for they find no difficulty in occasionally
taking a deer or a wild hog, as he comes down to quench his thirst.
There! don't you see something projecting above the water on the other
side of the pool?"

"I see a bit of rough wood, that looks as if it were the top of a log
underneath the water."

"Well, just watch it," Mr Harvey said, as he took aim with his rifle.

He fired; the water instantly heaved and whirled at the spot the boy was
watching; the supposed log rose higher out of the water, and then
plunged down again; five or six feet