AN ATTACK IN THE REAJt. 49 



but she turned slightly aside at the moment of his effort, and the point sank several 

 inches in her shoulder, inflicting a maddening wound which intensified his own 

 peril. 



Had his companions shown equal bravery, all might have been well with Divak, 

 but they were overcome by terror, and instead of rallying to his help, ran shouting 

 after those who had gone to the aid of Orak. 



The Americans saw the situation, and lost no time in hastening to the assistance 

 of the servant, who was confronting, single-handed, the enraged lioness. 



The latter made such a fierce leap to one side, when the spear entered her body, 

 that the weapon was wrenched from the grasp of Divak, who was left only with his 

 long-bladed knife. 



This was whipped from the upper part of his breech-cloth, where he carried it, 

 and he struck desperately at the animal as she bore him to the ground. Like the 

 former weapon, it inflicted a bad wound, but not a mortal one, and, sad to say, 

 everything done by the brave fellow really added to his own peril. 



Instead of carrying off the prostrate native, as the lion had done with his victim, 

 the female struck him a blow which shattered his skull as though it were an egg- 

 shell, the fellow dying with a suddenness almost like that caused by a lightning- 

 stroke. 



But, if it was the last fight of Divak, so was it the last stroke of the lioness 1 paw. 

 Hardly was the fearful blow delivered, when the crack of a rifle sounded above the 

 tumult, and the stricken beast, with a wild struggle, rolled over in the agonies of 

 death. 



It was Dick Brownell, who had outrun his friends, and, pausing at the moment 

 he saw the native borne to the earth, gave the finishing blow to the raging beast. 

 Alas! that it came just an instant too late to save her victim. 



As may be supposed, all was excitement for a few minutes, though the elder 

 members of the party retained their presence of mind. 



The chartering and affrighted natives flocked to the spot, Pongo and Diedrick 

 devoting themselves to soothing the animals and preventing the dreaded stampede, 

 while the Americans, seeing that Divak was past help, placed Orak in one of the 

 wagons, where he received all possible attention. 



"Watch for more lions," admonished Mr. Godkin; "I will attend to him. We 

 may receive another visit." 



The advice was good, though the danger wa? an improbable one. 



A few minutes later, something like quiet was restored. The rush was averted, 

 and the natives regained something of the self-possession that had left them so sud- 

 denly a short time before. 



Convinced that all peril for the time was past, the members gathered around the 

 vehicle where Mr. Godkin was attending to the wounded native. 



By the aid of the torch, he had effected a careful examination of the hurts of his 

 patient. Jack Harvey now took charge of the light, leaving both hands of the 

 director free to complete the work of the good Samaritan. 



4 



