Page 156 - Adventures in Africa

“ Do not let yourself drop off for a moment, old

fellow,” I said ; “ as long* as any prowling animal sees
you moving about around the fire he'll not venture to
make an attack; but should you slumber for a moment,

it is impossible to say what he may do.”
“ I do feel awfully drowsy, I own,” answered Harry,

rubbing his eyes and yawning ; “ still 111 do my best.
It is a shame that fellow Hans won't stand watch as
he ought to do, I only hope that another lion will
come roaring* close 'up to the camp, for the sake of

making him gBt on his legs. Tie knows that neither
you nor I would sleep on our posts, so he rests in

perfect security, throwing all the trouble on us.”
Harry and I talked on for a little time, I hoping*
that he would thus be thoroughly aroused ; then I lay

down 011 the spot he had occupied, pretty close to the
fire, with my rifle by my side ready for instant use.

It appeared to me that I had not been asleep five
minutes when I heard Harry exclaim—
“ P'red, rouse Jan. Up with you, and get ready for
battle.”

I seized my riiic and sprang to my feet, as wide
awake as ever I was in my life, and there I saw, not

six paces off, a creature with glaring eyes; not a lion,
however, but looking unusually large as it emerged
from the darkness into the light of the fire.

It crouched as if for a spring ; at the same moment
I heard Hans shriek out. For an instant I glanced

round, and caught an indistinct sight of another big
cat-like creature stealing towards the rear of the camp.
“ You and Jan must look out after that brute, and
we'll attend to this one,” I shouted.