a tree,
detaching fragments of moss, and again leapt to the ground, emitting
this time a ferocious roar. It seemed as if its long patience were
exhausted, and that it was lashing itself into a fury, for it was
here and there with lightning quickness, striking blows at the
fence, and at times seizing a branch in its teeth, but so quick that
they could not move their weapons smartly enough to cover the point
of attack.

It was nervous work for the watchers. Every moment they expected to
find themselves under the claws and teeth of the maddened beast,
with the odds all against them, for in such a small enclosure they
would be helpless. It was bad enough when the brute was emitting his
terrible roars and screams, but the spells of silence were worse.

In one of these spells Venning felt for the raw skin of the
slaughtered leopard, and threw it out into the darkness. There were
stealthy footsteps, the noise of sniffing, followed by the sound of
an animal rolling on the ground, and they fired together. With a
snarl the leopard bounded right to the very mouth of the opening,
knocking over the smouldering tinder and sending out a shower of
sparks. Venning fired. Compton lunged forward with his big knife,
and the leopard leapt aside.

"Hit him that time, I bet," muttered Venning, who was shaking with
excitement.

Then followed a weary time of waiting in complete silence, broken
only by the soft melancholy murmur of the forest. They refilled the
magazines of their carbines, built up the tinder fire, and stretched
their ears to catch the first warning note of danger. Then the
whisperings swarmed in upon them. A creak of a branch, the turn of a
leaf, the scraping of creeping insects, the whizzing of moths, and
the murmur of the forest, all seemed to them the whisperings of
stealthy foes. Every now and again they moistened their lips, which
dried after the repeated spells during which they held their breath,
while intently listening for the footfalls of the enemy.

Then, with a feeling of relief, they heard an unmistakable wouf!
That, at least, was a tangible sound--the sound of a startled
animal.

Presently they heard its footsteps, as it came cautiously forward, a
little way at a time. Once more the fingers coiled round the
triggers, and the barrels were raised.

Then came a yelp, this time of fear, followed by the leopard's
terrible scream. Some animal darted by the opening, so close that
they could see the gleam of