now arrived.

"What do you think, Mr David?" I heard Jack exclaim. "If a big
alligator has not got into the canoe and eaten up all the birds while we
were away! It is fortunate we brought up as many as we did. However,
the captain has got enough and to spare."

"We will be even wid him," said Timbo. "Igubo say he kill alligator.
If he find him he get dem all back to-night."

"Tell him he had better not make the attempt," said Jack, "or maybe the
lion will pick him up on his way to the river. We must give a good
account of the brute to-morrow, or he will be doing us mischief."

There was ample work that evening in plucking the birds and in salting
down the larger number. I should have mentioned that a salt spring had
been found on the side of the mountain; without it, indeed, I doubt if
we should have been able to remain at the place, for we had already
finished our supply of that necessary article.

There was no necessity to warn the rest to secure their doors at night.
One man, it was agreed, should keep watch, as it was very likely the
lion would attempt to get into the cattle-pen. As I lay asleep in my
hut the roar of the lion entered into my dreams. Sometimes I thought he
was flying at Kate, and I was in vain endeavouring to defend her. Once
he had carried off Natty; and I saw Leo, his namesake, seated on his
back and digging a spear into him. At last I started up, and was sure
the sounds I heard were real, and no mere fancies of the brain. The
whole of the inmates of our camp were on foot, and I heard them calling
to each other. Presently there was a shot, followed by another
tremendous roar.

"Can you see him?" I heard Stanley cry out.

"No, sir; he has made off," answered Jack.

"I thought I hit him," exclaimed Stanley.

"T'ink not," said Timbo. "He no like sound of gun."

After a time they all went back to the huts. I think I said I slept in
David's, for he acted as my nurse throughout my illness, and no one
could have been more gentle and kind. Next morning Stanley and the boys
hurried out to see if there were any marks of blood; but none were
discovered, and it was therefore plain that the lion could not have been
hit.

My companions had not been idle, I found, for they had cultivated a
considerable piece of ground, and enclosed it, on one side of the
cattle-pen. People in England have little notion how rapidly fruits
come to perfection in the Tropics, where the account of Jonah'