n grew nearer.

"Want the horses," said Chicory. "Two--three--four lion."

He pointed his hand in different directions; and now it was quite
evident that that was no animal ventriloquism, but several lions
attracted by the horses were cautiously approaching so as to make a
successful spring.

At last their unpleasant neighbours grew so demonstrative, that Mr
Rogers gave the word, and they drew rein at the edge of a patch of wood,
where there was an abundance of dry brush and grass.

"We must not go any further, boys," exclaimed Mr Rogers. "Dick, sit
fast, and hold the reins of Jack's and my horses. We'll jump down and
make a fire. Come, Chicory, dead dry grass."

The boy no sooner understood what was wanted than he began rapidly to
gather up the dry grass into a heap, while Jack and his father drew
their heavy hunting-knives and chopped off the brushwood; but it was
nervous work, for the low, muttering roar came ominously close, and at
any moment Dick felt that one of the great cat-like creatures, which
have a terrible hunger after horseflesh, might spring upon one of the
poor creatures, which trembled and whinnied, and tugged at the reins.

"I shan't do much good, father," cried Dick, "but I'm going to shoot
where I think the lions are."

"Yes, fire," cried his father, who was down upon his knees, vainly
trying to get the dry grass to burn; "fire as quickly as you can load."

_Bang_, _bang_, went Dick's double gun on the instant; and apparently
comforted by the noise, and perhaps an instinctive knowledge that the
firing was for their protection, the horses ceased to embarrass their
caretaker by tugging to get away, and crowded together, pressing one
upon the other in their dread.

There was a pause of about a minute's duration, and then the lions' cry
was heard again a little more distant, but coming nearer and nearer; and
still the fire would not burn, but kept on emitting a dense blinding
smoke, which hid one great beast from Dick's eyes, where he had
distinctly seen the animal creeping along towards them. Directly after,
though, he saw another quite plainly in the bright moonlight, creeping
cautiously onwards, and stooping from time to time as if about to
spring.

Dick had reloaded by this time, and taking careful aim he fired again,
when there was a furious roar, and they all heard quite plainly the snap
and gnashing of the monster's teeth.

"You've hit him, Dick. Keep it up, my boy. Chicory, he