A STARTLING VISIT. 45 



the ground was more open. That in the opposite direction contained nothing 

 more than a stunted growth of vegetation, only a few inches in height. 



Instantly Dick was on the alert, and, holding his rifle ready for immediate use. 

 he peered toward the water. 



He could see nothing, but he was none the less certain that some kind of animal 

 was there. More than that, he was almost positive as to its species. 



In the repressed excitement of the moment, the youth forgot about awaking the 

 natives. His whole anxiety was to learn the nature of the danger that threatened 

 himself and companions. 



Suddenly two small, round circles of light flickered in the grass and then van- 

 ished, almost before they were seen. 



Dick knew they were the eyes of a huge lion, whose orbs at that instant reflected 

 the light cf the fire, the head immediately shifting its position, so as to hide the 

 phosphorescent glow from the watchfui youth. 



The cunning beast did not growl, and was evidently trying to steal upon th 

 camp unawares. But for Dick's vigilance the king of beasts would have accom- 

 plished it without detection. 



The gloom in the grass was too deep for the lad to locate the massive head or 

 lithe body, and, uncertain whether he had changed his position or not, he dared not 

 fire. He was standing in this attitude of doubt when the lion did an astounding 

 thing. 



He had not changed his position, but, crouching low in the grass, where he was 

 invisible, he gathered his mighty muscles and made a prodigious bound upon the 

 one marked for his victim. 



This was not Dick Brownell, as you might suppose, but the native called Orak, 

 who lay sleeping the farthest from one of the fires and the nearest to the beast. 



It was while the youth was trying so hard to penetrate the gloom, that he sud- 

 denly saw the lion rise from the grass, as if he were lifted in air, and then come 

 over in his terrible parabola toward the unconscious African, who was slumbering 

 less than a dozen feet from where Dick was standing. 



The lion did not utter the slightest roar, seeming to know that prudence forbade, 

 for he was too intelligent to attack such a large company when on their guard. 



It seemed singular that the beast did not assail one of the oxen or ponies or 

 goats, but it is a strange fact connected with the lion, that he generally prefers to 

 attack a native African, even when other game is more convenient 



At the instant the beast was at the highest point of the appalling arch, Dick 

 Brownell let fly with his Winchester. A horrible growl left no doubt that his bullet 

 had found its mark, but, the enormous animal having started, nothing could check 

 his prodigious bound while in air. He landed astride the sleeping Orak, and, drop- 

 ping his massive jaws, fastened them in his shoulder, whirled about and galloped 

 off in the darkness, as lightly as if carrying a kid. 



His action was as quick as a cat's, but as he wheeled, Dick continued firing, 

 sending two more shots into him before he passed beyond reach. 



