part of the females.

"Aim at the leader," the general whispered, "and have your brands in
readiness."

Immediately behind the party a fire was burning; it had been suffered
to die down until it was a mere pile of glowing embers, and in this the
ends of a dozen stakes of dried wood were laid. The glow of the fire was
carefully hidden by a circle of sticks on which thick cloths had been
hung. The fire had been prepared in readiness in case the lions should
appear in numbers too formidable to be coped with. The leading lion was
within twenty-five paces of the spot where the party was standing when
Hamilcar gave the word, and a volley of arrows shot forth from their
hiding place.

The lion gave a roar of rage and pain, then, crouching for a moment,
with a few tremendous bounds he reached the edge of the wood. He could
see his enemies now, and with a fierce spring threw himself upon them.
But as soon as they had discharged their arrows the soldiers had caught
up their weapons and formed in a close body, and the lion was received
upon the points of a dozen spears.

There was a crashing of wood and a snarling growl as one of the soldiers
was struck dead with a blow of the mighty paw of the lion, who, ere he
could recover himself, received half a dozen javelins thrust deep into
his flanks, and fell dead.

The rest of the troop had followed him as he sprang forward, but some of
the soldiers, who had been told off for the purpose, seized the lighted
brands and threw them over the head of the leader among his followers.
As the glowing brands, after describing fiery circles in the air, fell
and scattered at their feet, the lions paused, and turning abruptly off
dashed away with long bounds across the front of the grove.

"Now, Malchus, to horse!" Hamilcar exclaimed. And the general and his
son, leaping upon their steeds, dashed out from the grove in pursuit of
the troop of lions. These, passing between the two clumps of trees, were
making for the plain beyond, when from behind the other grove a dark
band of horsemen rode out.

"Let them pass," Hamilcar shouted; "do not head them back."

The cavalry reined up until the troop of lions had passed. Hamilcar rode
up to the officer in command.

"Bring twenty of your men," he said; "let the rest remain here. There
will doubtless be more of them yet."

Then with the twenty horsemen he rode on in pursuit of the lions.

The chase was an exciting one. For a time the lions, with