its eyes as it glanced in upon them, and
after it with a bound went a larger form. They listened to the
dwindling noise of the chase, and Compton stirred up the fire.

"What's up now, eh?"

"It," said Venning, referring to the leopard, "is after something,
don't you think?"

"I hope to goodness it will have a good run, then."

But even as he spoke the sound of the chase grew; the smaller animal
flashed by again with the savage pursuer at its heels, flew round
the trees, and leapt inside--leapt in and pressed itself down behind
the two of them. With a snarl, the leopard stopped before the
smouldering logs, and then sprang on to the roof, at which it
struck two or three tremendous blows before bounding off again.

"Where's my knife?" yelled Compton.

Venning felt a warm tongue on his hand, and drew it away with a cry,
as if he had been stung.

"Use your knife, man. I'm blinded."

"All right," gasped Venning.

"Feel for it first, or you'll be hitting me. Quick! I say."

"What is it?" cried Venning, alarmed at the sudden change in
Compton's tones from rage to alarm.

"Something's pulling me. It's got its arm through the side."

There was a sudden fierce yap and a snapping of jaws. Compton's
shirt gave way with a tear, and outside in the dark the leopard
screamed. Inside the cry was answered by the howl of a jackal.

"It's our jackal," shouted Venning.

"Where--what?"

"Here;" and Venning laughed hysterically. "Poor old chap!" then,
"Good old jacky!"

"Nonsense!" said Compton; but his band groped out in the dark, and
when he felt the rough tongue, he joined in the laugh. They were as
pleased as if Mr. Hums or Muata had returned.

"Did the brute really hook you?"

"Forced his paw through," said Compton, shuddering, "but the jackal
bit him."

The jackal's tail thumped the ground, then they felt it stiffen, and
were again on the alert. Venning ran his fingers lightly along the
jackal's back till he reached the nose, which was pointing straight
up. Without a moment's delay he raised his rifle and fired.

At the same moment the saplings forming the roof snapped and fell in
upon them with an added weight, which knocked them flat. They were
dimly conscious of a tremendous struggle, but when they had crawled
out of the litter, they were thankful to find that each was still
alive. After the first hurried words, they faced the darkness
apprehensively, for their shelter was gone, and their rifles were
und