46 A STARTLING VISIT. 



Poor Orak uttered a piercing screech as the teeth of the beast sank in his 

 shoulder, and he was lifted from his feet and borne off with his knees dragging 

 along the ground. 



The report of the rifle, the cry of the native and the shout of Dick roused every 

 one in camp. Jack Harvey, who had learned the need of awaking like a flash, on 

 the plains of Texas and New Mexico, bounded from the wagon, gun in hand, while 

 Mr. Godkin and Bob Marshall were at his heels. 



The natives leaped to their feet, as if the ground had suddenly become red hot, 

 and stared bewildered around them. 



" Where is he ? What is it ? " demanded the Texan, dashing after Dick, who 

 had started to overtake the lion. 



" It's a lion ; he's got Orak ! look out or you'll kill him instead of the beast." 



"Which way did he go?" asked Jack, staring into the gloom without catching 

 sight of the monster. 



His question was answered by a wail from the poor African, struggling vainly in 

 the grasp of the merciless beast. 



All four Americans and most of the servants ran at their highest speed in the 

 direction of the cry. 



Mr. Godkin seized a brand from one of the fires, and, swinging it above his 

 head, took the lead, the others seeing the indispensable advantage the torch gave 

 him. 



" He is badly hurt," called Dick, " and I don't believe will run far." 



" Look out ! we're close on him ! " called Jack, in a warning voice, fearful that 

 Mr. Godkin's haste would lead him into inextricable peril. 



But the veteran knew what he was doing. Holding the torch above his head, 

 he circled it swiftly, so as to add to its flame, and, bending his head forward, stood 

 still and peered into the gloom beyond. 



" Here, Jack ! " he called in a low voics ; " I see him ! Fire quick ! " 



It was important to keep the torch aflame, since an unerring shot could not be 

 made without it. Mr. Godkin, therefore, though he held his gun in one hand, made 

 no attempt to fire, since to do so successfully he would have had to cast aside his 

 torch or pass it to some one else. 



There were too many good marksmen at his elbow to render this necessary. 

 " Hold your light a little higher," said Jack Harvey, bringing his rifle to his 

 shoulder and striving for a better view of the lion. 



" Be careful you don't hit Orak," admonished Dick, who had restrained his own 

 fire through the fear of injuring the native. 



The lion, as he frequently does under such circumstances, had run but a short 

 distance, when he crouched on the ground to devour his victim. 



He had halted near a clump of bushes, wheeling about so as to face his 

 pursuers, who approached within fifteen or twenty yards. The native had been 

 laid on the ground between his paws, where he had almost fainted from the pain 

 of his wounds. 



