lions. They
always take them. It takes a big lion to catch a buffalo, and even then
sometimes the buffaloes kill a lion."

"How?" asked Nero.

"With their sharp horns," answered Switchie. "Buffaloes have terribly
sharp horns. Better look out for them. Better stick to the goats and the
sheep, or even a rabbit, until you learn more about hunting. As for me,
I am old enough now to try for a buffalo, I think. So if you see one,
tell me, and I'll kill it and give you some."

"Well, I guess I'm nearly as big and strong as you," growled Nero. "If I
see a buffalo I'll jump on his back, and strike him with my paw."

"All right. But if you get hurt don't say I didn't tell you to be
careful," warned Switchie. "Now come on! We must hurry or we shall be
left behind. Ho for the jungle hunt!"

The two boy lions hurried on after the others. Ahead of them they could
hear, faintly, the tread of the older beasts as they walked along,
looking for something to strike and kill, to stop the terrible hunger.
The lions only went on a hunt when they wanted something to eat. They
did not kill for fun. It was their way of getting a living.

Suddenly, up in front, there sounded a crash among the tangled vines,
bushes and trees of the jungle. Then came a roar, but not a very loud
one.

"What's that?" asked Nero of Switchie.

"Oh, that isn't any thing. Don't be afraid," answered the other lion.

"I'm not afraid!" said Nero. "Only, I want to learn things. I never
hunted in the jungle at night before, and I don't know so much about it
as you do. What was that noise?"

"Oh," said Switchie, easily, "that, I suppose, was my father, or yours,
killing some big animal. Maybe it was a buffalo. We'll soon find out."

And the two boy lions did. As they came to an open place in the jungle
they saw Nero's father and that of Switchie crouching near something big
and black lying on the ground. Off to one side was a lion, licking, with
his big red tongue, a sore place on his leg.

"What happened?" asked Nero quickly, of his father.

"We killed a buffalo, Cruncher and I," said Mr. Lion, as he nodded
toward Switchie's father, whose name was Cruncher. "We killed a buffalo,
but my cousin, Chaw, is hurt. The buffalo stuck him with one of his
horns. Then I struck down the buffalo. Here, Nero, is a bit of meat for
you, and, Switchie, you may have some. But not much. This meat belongs
to Cruncher and me. We will give you a little, but, if you want any
more,