s a crashing
noise as if something had leaped at the hedge.

The answer came in the panic of the bullocks and the dread of the
horses; and, without hesitating, Jack lowered his piece in the direction
of the sound, to fire both barrels rapidly one after the other.

There was a savage roar for response, and a rush as of some creature
bounding through the bushes. Then all was silent.

"I wonder whether I hit him," said Jack, proceeding to throw out the
empty cartridges and reload.

"Is anything wrong? Shall I come?" shouted Mr Rogers, from within the
waggon.

"No, father," replied Dick steadily. "You needn't come. We only fired
at a lion."

But as they reached the fire again, a tall dark figure crawled to their
side, and nodded to them gravely.

"Plenty of lion here. I stop and help you."

It was the General, and glad enough the boys were of his company.

Almost before they had seated themselves they heard a sound on the
right, and taking a burning stick from the fire the General whirled it
in the direction, the wood blazing up in its rapid passage through the
air, and falling amongst some dry grass, which it set on fire, to burn
for a few moments vividly, and then leave the surroundings apparently
darker than before.

As the burning brand fell in the forest there was an angry snarl, and
these snarls were repeated again and again as from time to time the
General skilfully threw the wood wherever his quick ears told him there
was one of the lurking beasts.

"Is there more than one lion?" said Dick, in a whisper at last.

"Three, four, five," said the General. "They want horse or bullock.
Hist! look! see!"

He pointed to a dark patch at the edge of the forest, where, upon Dick
directing his eyes, he could see nothing; but the next moment there was
the reflection of the fire to be seen in a couple of glaring orbs.

"Can you shoot him?" said the General.

"Let me by, Dick. My hand's steady," whispered Jack. "I think I could
hit him."

"Go on," was the whispered reply.

To fire it was necessary for Jack to take aim across the Zulu, who
leaned forward so that the barrel of Jack's rifle rested upon his
shoulders; while, kneeling, the boy took along and careful aim, right
between the two glowing orbs, and drew trigger. There was the sharp
report, a furious roar, a rush, the falling of some heavy body, and the
scattering of the fire-brands. Then all was silent; and they rapidly
collected the scatter