can retrieve any of the game."

"Yah! Ain't 'it anything," growled Buck Denham.

"But where's Peter? I heard two cooeys," said Mark.

"Yes; that was me, sir. I ain't seen him."

"Well, now then, gentlemen," said Buck Denham; "all loaded?"

"'Cept me," said Dan.

"Take these. Here are some cartridges," said Sir James.

"Now then--ready?" said Denham, quite loudly, and there was another
burst of roars and snarls. "Thank ye," said Denham; "that's just let us
know where abouts to fire. Now, all of you let them have it, as near as
you can guess; and fire low. I'd kneel down. I'll just give them a
rouse up with a shout. That will make them roar again. Then you,
doctor, give the word, and let 'em have it."

"Right," said the doctor.

"Ready, my lads?" whispered Buck.

There was a low murmur of assent, and the driver put one hand to his
cheek. "Hullo, there, you!"

_Er_--_rr_--_oomph_! came in a roar, followed by a snarl; and this time
there was a sharp crackling of bushes, as one of the savage beasts made
a bound towards them.

It was all guess work, but the volley fired at the advancing brute was
followed by a roar from several feline throats and a struggling plunge
and trampling amidst the undergrowth, with a fiercer snarling than ever.

"Load again quickly," said the doctor, "and stand firm, my lads."

"Ay, we've got to," added Denham. "I was in hopes that those shots
would have scared them; but one of them has got it pretty warm." For
the violent kicking and tearing amidst the bushes went on, supplemented
by the snarling and growling of the hidden beasts.

"How long is it to morning?" asked the doctor in a whisper.

"Good two hours, I should say, sir."

"Then we had better retreat to the waggons before the savage brutes take
courage and come on at us."

"They won't attack, sir, as long as they have got that bullock there,
unless we go near. Now, if we had only got a light we could rouse up
that fire--hullo!"

For all at once, as if the man's words had been heard, there was a soft
crackling amidst the embers where the fire should have been blazing, and
faintly illuminated by a glow from the earth, the watchers caught sight
of the face of the Illaka, looking strange and ruddy, while as the black
stirred up the ashes with the haft of his spear there was enough life in
them to emit a bluish golden flame which caught the twigs he threw on.
The light cast upon him increased, and in a few mi