Page 33 - Adventures in Africa

hurt, though you've had a narrow squeak for it, ITad

your gun not missed fire, you might have shot the
lion yourself. Here he lies, and there's the springbok.”
White flay unclc was talking, he was examining' my
hurts. The lion had given me a fearful blow with his

paw, and had injured one of my shoulders* It was a
wonder indeed that he did not kill me,
u W e must get you to the camp somehow/' said my

uncle; “ I cannot leave you here while I bring the ox,
so the sooner we set off the better.1'
Taking me up in his arms, he began to stagger 011

with me ; but, though he was a strong man, I was
no slight weight, and he had great difficulty in
getting along. 1 asked him to let me walk, as I

thought that I could do so with his support. When T
tried, however, I found that I could not move one
foot before the other. As we got within hail of the
camp he shouted to Jan to come and help him ; and

together they carried me along the remainder of the
distance,
<f Now that we have you safe here, though I

am unwilling to leave you, I must go back and fetch
the antelope, for we cannot do without food/’ he
said.

Telling Jan to collect materials for building a hut,
as it was evident that I should be unable to move for
some time, and also charging him to keep an eye on

me, he started off.
I felt a great deal of pain, but I retained my senses,
and tried to divert my thoughts by watching Jan, who

was busily employed in cutting long sticks and
branches for the hut.