to produce the desired effect. As we got nearer there was a
general movement among them. As we shouted they roared in return,
apparently not being alarmed by the sound of our voices.

"We must not remain unarmed, so let only three fire at a time, while the
others reload," said my uncle. "Now fire!"

As the smoke cleared away, it seemed doubtful whether any of the shots
had taken effect, as the lions did not move from the spot they occupied.

"I suspect they are waiting for the appearance of a herd of `gemsboks,'
and that they will not give up the chance of catching their prey,"
observed my uncle.

"We must disappoint them then," said Mr Welbourn. "Harry, get one of
your rockets ready, and pitch it into the middle of them directly after
we fire our next volley."

We had got the tube fixed and placed at the proper elevation. We had to
wait until those next to fire had discharged their rifles, when two of
the lions were evidently badly wounded, but even this did not make them
take to flight. Harry then applied the match to the rocket which
pitched in the midst of the congregated lions. The effect was
electrical. Seized with a panic, away they all scampered over the rocks
at a greater rate than I had ever before seen lions run. None stopped
for the others. One with his spine injured lay on the ground. Two
others dropped before they had got far, while the remainder were soon
out of sight.

"The brutes will not come back to this locality," exclaimed my uncle.
"We must now put the other ones out of their pain."

A rifle ball sent through the head of each quickly did this. Rapidly
skinning them, we left the carcases to be devoured by the birds of prey,
which almost before we got out of sight appeared in the air; for
although hyaenas and jackals are said to keep aloof even from a dead
lion, the vulture tribes possess no such awe for the monarch of the
wilds.

Returning to where we had left our cattle, we at once moved forward,
anxious to get out from among the rocky defiles as soon as possible.
Scarcely had we emerged from them, than we saw in the distance an
enormous herd of deer, which Mr Welbourn at once pronounced to be
"pallah." As they approached we drew on one side before we were
discovered. First came a stag, a magnificent animal of a bay colour,
fading into a whitey-brown, with elegantly, somewhat harp-shaped horns,
marked with rings, and a black semi-circular mark on the croup by which
it could