Page 34 - Adventures in Africa

It seemed to me that my uncle had been gone for
more than an hour, and I began to fear that some

accident might have happened to him. Where there
was one lion it was probable that there were others,
and they might revenue themselves on the slayer of

their relative.
Jan, however, kept working away as if satisfied

that all was right, now and then taking a look at me,
and throwing a few sticks on the fire to get it to burn
brightly. lie then began to prepare for roasting the

expected venison by placing some uprights, with
cross pieces to serve as spits, close to the fire.

“ Hurrah! here am de Cap'll I” he at length
shouted, such being the title he usually bestowed
on my uncle. tf He bring springbok, an' Some ting*

else too."
I felt greatly relieved when I saw my uncle throw
down his heavy load, consisting not only of the ante­

lope which I had shot, but of the lion's skin.
“ I brought this/’ he said, (i to make a bed for you.
You want it, though it is not fit at present to serve the

purpose/'
I thanked him for his offer, but declared that I

would rather just then be left where I was, as any
movement pained me.
Jan lost no time in cutting off some pieces of

venison, and placing them to roast. My uncle also
put on a pot with a small portion to make some soup,

which he said would suit me better than the roast.
Hungry as I was, though I tried to eat some of the
latter as soon as Jan declared it sufficiently done, I

could not manage to get it down. M y thirst became