fter sunset the roar of a lion was heard out on the plain; it was
answered simultaneously in six or eight directions, and the stamping of
the oxen announced that the animals were conscious of danger.

"There are a troop of them about," Mr Harvey said, "just as I feared.
Put a little more wood on the fires, boys; it is as well to keep them
burning briskly, but it will probably be some hours before they work
themselves up to make an attack upon us."

As the time went on, the roaring became louder and more continuous.

"There must be a score of them at least," Mr Harvey said; "they are
ranging round and round the camp; they don't like the look of the
fires."

By ten o'clock the roaring had approached so closely that Mr Harvey
thought that it was time to prepare for the defence; he took post at one
side of the square, and placed the boys and Jumbo at the other three;
Tony and the other hunter were to keep outside the cattle, and walk
round and round. The armed natives were scattered round the square.
The drivers and cattle-men were to move about among the animals, and do
their best to pacify them, for already a perfect panic had seized upon
the draught-cattle, and with starting eyes and coats ruffled by fear
they were tugging and straining at their ropes.

"Quiet, you silly beasts," Dick said, leaning out of the waggon in which
he had taken his place; "you are safer where you are than you would be
anywhere else. If you got away and bolted out into the plain, as you
want to do, you would be pulled down and killed in no time."

The fires were now blazing brightly, throwing a wide circle of light
round the camp and making visible every object within fifty yards.

It had been arranged that so long as the lions kept at a distance and
only approached singly the defenders of the various faces of the square
should retain their positions; but that, should a formidable attack be
made upon any one side, the white men with two of the natives with them
should hasten to the point attacked.

Several times, as Dick stood in the waggon, rifle in hand, straining his
eyes at the darkness, he fancied he saw indistinct shadowy forms moving
at the edge of the circle of light Two or three times he raised his
rifle to take aim, but the objects were so indistinct that he doubted
whether his fancy had not deceived him.

Presently the crack of Mr Harvey's rifle was heard, followed by a roar
of a sharper and more angry nature than those whi