yellow grass where they expected to spring a large bird or two, when,
all at once, something of a rich yellow and brown darted out before
Dick, leaving one clump to make for another, closely followed by a
little dun-coloured animal, evidently its young.

Dick's rifle was to his shoulder on the instant, and a bullet through
the animal laid it low, while the young one leaped upon it, and turned
and snarled, and spat at its mother's slayer.

"Why it's the leopard that came after poor Rough'un, I'll be bound,"
cried Jack, coming up. "It has got a young one, and that's what made it
so daring. Hullo, little chap! We'll take you back for a pet."

But the young leopard was already in a pet, and it scratched, and swore,
and behaved so cat-like, that it was no easy task to secure it. This,
however, was done in a strong game-bag, which was hung in a tree while
the mother was skinned for the sake of her beautiful hide.

As they neared the place where Jack's lion lay, Dick drew his brother's
attention to the vultures that were winging their way overhead.

"You'll see if they haven't been at your lion," he said.

He proved a true prophet, for as they drew near the glade--Jack feeling
a strange chill of horror as he recalled the last night's adventure--
first one and then another vulture flew up, and when Chicory made a dash
forward they rose in a cloud.

"Your skin's spoiled, Jack," said his brother.

But he was wrong, for the vultures had found two assegais leaning
against a bush, and looking so ominous with their bright blades where
the General had left them, that they had not dared to touch the lion,
and the consequence was that a magnificent skin was obtained, one that
proved to be no light load for Peter and Chicory, who carried it
swinging from a pole resting upon their shoulders.

The load was increased as they picked up the skin of the leopard, while
the boys carried the game.

The young leopard proved to be quite safe in the game-bag, which formed
a comfortable hammock for it as it hung in a tree, but no sooner was it
swung from Jack's shoulder, and felt the motion of the walker, than it
became furious, spitting and tearing, and trying to get out.

One way and another they were so loaded that the sight of the waggon
proved very welcome, and all were only too glad to partake of a good
basin of what Mr Rogers called "Dinny's restorative," namely the rich
thick venison soup always stewing in the great pot, and be