afening roar, and the lion, which had fallen short in his
spring and rolled over, evidently badly hit, struggled to his feet, and
made at Jack, who sheltered himself behind the nearest tree; and when
the great brute came on, with distended claws and bristling mane, he
fired again, at a distance of a couple of yards, forgetting that his
charge was but small shot.

At that distance, though, small shot were as good as a bullet, and the
lion fell in his tracks, snarling and growling horribly, as he struck
impotently at his slayer; then his head fell back, the mighty paws grew
inert, and he lay over more upon his side--for with a furious cry of
rage Chicory forgot his weariness, and picking up his assegai, drove it
deep into the animal's chest.

Hardly believing it true, Jack rapidly reloaded, congratulating himself
upon what he had done, when he heard the rustling of leaves, and
presented his piece, fully expecting that it was the lion's mate.

But no: it was the General, who ran panting up, having heard the sound
of the rifle, and as he reached them Chicory took his hand, and led him
to the patch of grass without a word.

Jack followed, instinctively knowing that something terrible was there.
And then his heart seemed to stand still, as he heard a deep groan burst
from the General's breast, and he sank down by the body of the son he
had come to seek.

"Is--is he dead?" said Jack, in a hoarse whisper, as he gazed down in
the gathering darkness at poor Coffee's bleeding form.

For answer the General was feeling the boy's chest, and he then laid his
ear against his side.

"No, not dead!" he cried excitedly.

Then lifting the boy in his arms, he started off back towards the
waggon, Jack and Chicory following behind, but not until the latter had
rushed back to where the lion lay, and plunged his assegai once more
deeply into the monster's chest.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THE CAPTURE OF A CAT.

It was a long and toilsome walk back, for the night had come on quickly,
and every now and then the roar of some beast of prey, or the crash of
some animal through the trees, was heard. But nothing interfered with
them; and when from time to time they halted for a few moments, the
General gladly made use of the strips torn by Jack from his handkerchief
and shirt to bind up the poor boy's bleeding wounds.

It seemed wonderful to Jack that strength and determination on the part
of the General, almost as wonderful as the unerri