?"

"Hims no be cotched dis yer night, massa; hims too far away an' too wide
'wake."

"What say you to a long shot, Peterkin? Your rifle is sighted for four
hundred yards, and he seems to be little more than six hundred off."

"I'll try," said our friend, going down on one knee and adjusting the
sight of his piece. Taking a long, steady aim, he fired, and in another
instant the zebra lay dead on the plain. I need hardly add that our
amazement was excessive. Even Peterkin himself could scarcely believe
his eyes. Had his rifle been sighted for such a distance, the shot,
although a splendid one, would not have amazed us so much, because we
knew that our friend's aim was deadly; but as he had to elevate the
muzzle above the object fired at and guess the amount of elevation, the
shot was indeed wonderful. It was a long time before our guide could
move, but when he did recover himself he danced and shouted like a
madman with delight, and then, setting off with a bound, sped across the
plain like a deer.

"Come along," cried Jack with a laugh--"let's follow; for Mak looked so
rabid when he went off that I believe he'll eat the beast raw before we
can claim our share, if we don't look sharp."

We all of us set off at a smart trot, and soon came to the spot where
our prize lay. It was a splendid creature, and in prime condition.
After examining it carefully, and descanting on the beauty of its
striped skin, I sat down beside it and pulled out my note-book, while my
comrades entered the forest to search for a suitable place on which to
encamp, and to kindle a fire. A spot was quickly found, and I had
scarcely finished making notes when they returned to carry the zebra
into the encampment. We accomplished this with some difficulty, and
laid it beside the fire. Then cutting four large steaks from its flanks
we proceeded to sup, after which we made our arrangements for spending
the night there. We little knew the startling surprise that was in
store for us that night.

As the forest in that place happened to be swarming with wild animals of
every kind, we deemed it prudent to set a watch as well as to keep up a
blazing fire. Jack and I and the negro kept watch by turns; Peterkin,
being still sufficiently an invalid to claim exemption from laborious
duties, was permitted to rest undisturbed.

About midnight I aroused Jack, and having made him sit up, in order to
show that he was thoroughly awake, I lay down and we