Page 134 - Adventures in Africa

do that," replied my uncle. “ W e'll have a look at
the gentlemen. W e shall soon drive them off if I
mistake not.”

A s it would have been Imprudent to carry the cattle
and horses into the neighbourhood* a halt was called,

and the blacks were left in charge of the animals,
while we, with Hans Scarff, prepared to ride forward.
w S ta y ! " said Harry. “ I think we have got some­

thing to send them to the rightabout, if our shouts
fail to drive them away/J And going to the waggon

he produced half-a-dozen rockets.
“ One of those will do," observ ed his father, “ for
we may want the rest for another emergency. How­

ever, you can carry a couple in case one should fail.1'
Led by Toko, w© proceeded along the defile, when,

on reaching some high ground, we saw, collected to-
gether below us among the rocks, an immense number
of lions. There must have been several families, fathers

and mothers with their young ones. W hat could
have brought them together to that spot, it was diffi­
cult to conjecture. Toko declared that they knew

we were about to pass that way, and had assembled
for the purpose of attacking us. Of course such an

idea was ridiculous; however, there they were, and
had we passed close to them^ they might have com­
mitted serious havoc among our cattle, although wTe

should no doubt have shot down many of them. They
must have seen us, from the way they lashed their

tails and muttered ; while, from the loud'roars which
three or four of the elders gave forth, it was pretty
clear that they meant mischief.

We, however, rode forward determined to drive