ringly. "Where are
you going?" he asked as the General arose.

"Show you in a minute. Guru!"

The explorer had joined the Sikh at the wagon. There was a rattle of
chains, and with the steel traps in their hands the two returned to the
fire.

"Now, Guru, we are going to set out these traps around the camp. After
this you and Akram and Amir Ali will have to do it, so observe us
closely."

"Oh, that's what you wanted them for, eh?" cried Jack. Schoverling
smiled.

"Not exactly, but they're going to be a whole lot of help. My idea is,
Doctor, that if we set these out around the camp they will keep us from
being surprised to some extent. They won't stop a lion or buffalo, of
course, but they will serve to check them or any other big game."

"It is good," nodded von Hofe gravely. "I think it will be of much use.
I will go too."

The boys cut heavy stakes with their hand-axes, and all six of the traps
were fastened securely. Then, accompanied by the Indians, they placed
the traps in a wide circle on each side of the zareba, the most
threatened point of attack. When the stakes were driven, the jaws of the
traps were opened and light creepers flung over them.

"By golly, that'll make me sleep a whole lot sounder!" admitted Charlie
when they returned. Jack was disposed to turn up his nose at the
unbaited traps.

"Any fool jackal would smell 'em," he declared emphatically. "Why, you
can see them glint in the moonlight!"

"No matter," smiled the explorer. "We don't want to catch anything in
them--they're only there to keep us from being surprised."

That very night the traps proved their value, for while Jack was on
guard he was roused by the click of steel, a tremendous snarling growl,
and the sound of a furious struggle. The whole camp was up instantly,
and by the light of the natives torches they could see a lioness rolling
over, tearing furiously at a trap which clenched her two forepaws.

A moment later she tore free, but Jack's elephant-gun crashed out and
she lay still. The trap was promptly restaked and reset, while the Masai
dragged the body away. And after that, Jack said nothing more on the
question of unbaited traps.

They were now in a veritable hunter's paradise. It was unnecessary for
Schoverling and the boys to shoot game, for the Masai could spear all
that was needed without trouble, two or three of them going up-wind and
driving the game past the hiding-place of the rest. The next morning
they we