Page 151 - Adventures in Africa

“ But we heard it roar,” said Harry,
“ Oh, then it was a bull-frog,” cried Hans, rolling

himself up in his cloak and lying- down.
“ Bull-frog or lion, tliero.it is again!” exclaimed
Harry, jumping up and seizing his rifle.

There was no doubt about the matter: though the
o
F
voice of an ostrich at a distance may sound like that
of a lion, the roar of the king; of the forest is unmis­
takable when close at hand. Even llans was con­
vinced, and was quickly on his feet. It was very

certain that we should get no rest that night, unless
we could dispose of the intruder* The lion skin was
also of value, and we could not allow him to escape

with impunity* W e all advanced together, resolved
forthwith to shoot the brute ; that we should see him
directly we had no doubt. A short distance off,

between our camp-fire and the spot whence the roar
proceeded, was a pile of low rocks, a spur from a

neighbouring-hill. W e had just reached it, when we
caught sight of the lion who had emerged from
behind a thicket a little wagr ahead. He seemed at

once to look upon us as his foes. Had it been in the
day-time, he would probably have slunk away; but
night was his season for activity; and, lashing his tail

and again roaring loudly, he advanced across the open
space below the rocks* Now was the critical moment:
should we fail to kill him, he might make a desperate

spring and knock over one of us. It w as settled, there­
fore, that Harry and Jan should fire first, and then

Hans and I, should they fail to kill the brute; wre to
try what we could do, they, of course, in the mean­
time, reloading*