he kept trying to get in front of Jock, to head him off the 

 fight, and all the while shouting to the other boys to 

 call me. But Seedling was the Field Cornet, and 

 not one of them dared to move against him. 



At last the baboon, finding that Jock would not come 

 on, tried other tactics ; it made a sudden retreat and, 

 rushing for the pole, hid behind it as for protection. 

 Jock made a jump and the baboon leaped out to meet 

 him, but the dog stopped at the chain's limit, and the, 

 baboon just as in the first dash of all overshot the 

 mark ; it was brought up by the jerk of the collar, and 

 for one second sprawled on its back. That was the 

 first chance for Jock, and he took it. With one spring 

 he was in ; his head shot between the baboon's hind 

 legs, and with his teeth buried in the soft stomach he 

 lay back and pulled pulled for dear life, as he had 

 pulled and dragged on the legs of wounded game ; 

 tugged as he had tugged at the porcupine ; held on, 

 as he had held when the koodoo bull wrenched and 

 strained every bone and muscle in his body. 



Then came the sudden turn ! As Jock fastened 

 on to the baboon, dragging the chain taut while the 

 screaming brute struggled on its back, Seedling stood 

 for a second irresolute, and then with a stride forward 

 raised his sjambok to strike the dog. That was too 

 much for Jim ; he made a spring in and grasping the 

 raised sjambok with his left hand held Seedling power- 

 less, while in his right the boy raised his stick on guard. 



" Let him fight, Baas ! You said it ! Let the dog 

 fight ! " he panted, hoarse with excitement. 



The white man, livid with fury, struggled and 



399 



