on. Animals can't count. Seeing one of us moving, he may show
himself to the other, who remains hidden."

"Good. I will go on;" and at once Compton, taking the more dangerous
post, advanced slowly, leaving Venning standing against a tree.

A few moments later the watcher saw a dark form flitting through the
branches high up, without, however, offering a ghost of a mark, and
there was nothing left for him but to follow Compton and explain.

"And I suppose it's watching us now?" said the latter, gloomily.
"Any good to climb up a tree?"

"I should think not. Why, it's at home up there. You can see that
from the length of the claws, and the length of the tail, which acts
as a steerer, a balancing-pole, and a brake. You see when it brings
the tail down---?"

"No, I don't; but I do see that we are in a fix, and that the others
must be in a worse position."

"I cannot imagine Mr. Hume being caught in a trap, especially when
he has the jackal."

"And Muata!"

"And the black chap!"

"By Jove! suppose that fellow has proved treacherous;" and the two
turned this unpleasant thought over in their minds until a light
sound attracted their notice. Looking up, they caught the glare of
fierce green eyes.

"We've got him now!" yelled Compton. "Round that side."

Venning dashed round the tree, and three shots were fired in rapid
succession at a vanishing object.

"Missed again!"

"By gum, yes; and if we go on playing hide-and-seek any longer,
we'll be missing ourselves. We've got to build a camp at once.
That's the place, between those three trees. I'll cut, and you
build."

Compton, rolling up his sleeves, cut down saplings, and Venning
built a low roof, using the long tendrils of the creepers to bind
it. Then the spaces in between the trunks were filled in, and large
chunks of tinder were cut out of a fallen tree and placed at the
entrance, a fire of dry wood being made in a hole inside. There was
enough water in their flasks for a "billy" of tea, and by the time
they had finished their meal the darkness was on them. No sooner had
they settled down to watch than their foe was down, sniffing out the
position, and they were thankful they had acted in time. They beard
it at the back first, then overhead, and next at the side, its
presence indicated by low growls. Then it was in the front, and
Compton fired at a momentary gleam of two luminous spots. It bounded
right on the roof, which shook to its weight, then clawed up