haka had eaten them all up years before. Perhaps you know
the place, my father. In it is a great and strange mountain. It is
haunted also, and named the Ghost Mountain, and on the top of it is a
grey peak rudely shaped like the head of an aged woman. Here in this
wild place we must sleep, for darkness drew on. Now we soon learned that
there were many lions in the rocks around, for we heard their roaring
and were much afraid, all except Umslopogaas, who feared nothing. So we
made a circle of thorn-bushes and sat in it, holding our assegais ready.
Presently the moon came up--it was a full-grown moon and very bright, so
bright that we could see everything for a long way round. Now some six
spear-throws from where we sat was a cliff, and at the top of the cliff
was a cave, and in this cave lived two lions and their young. When the
moon grew bright we saw the lions come out and stand upon the edge of
the cliff, and with them were two little ones that played about like
kittens, so that had we not been frightened it would have been beautiful
to see them.

"Oh! Umslopogaas," said Nada, "I wish that I had one of the little lions
for a dog."

The boy laughed, saying, "Then, shall I fetch you one, sister?"

"Peace, boy," I said. "No man may take young lions from their lair and
live."

"Such things have been done, my father," he answered, laughing. And no
more was said of the matter.

Now when the cubs had played awhile, we saw the lioness take up the cubs
in her mouth and carry them into the cave. Then she came out again, and
went away with her mate to seek food, and soon we heard them roaring
in the distance. Now we stacked up the fire and went to sleep in our
enclosure of thorns without fear, for we knew that the lions were far
away eating game. But Umslopogaas did not sleep, for he had determined
that he would fetch the cub which Nada had desired, and, being young
and foolhardy, he did not think of the danger which he would bring upon
himself and all of us. He knew no fear, and now, as ever, if Nada spoke
a word, nay, even if she thought of a thing to desire it, he would not
rest till it was won for her. So while we slept Umslopogaas crept like
a snake from the fence of thorns, and, taking an assegai in his hand,
he slipped away to the foot of the cliff where the lions had their den.
Then he climbed the cliff, and, coming to the cave, entered there and
groped his way into it. The cubs heard him, and, thinking that it was