CHAPTER XVIII. 



A STRANGE SCENE. 



LTHOUGH it fell to the lot of Bob Marshall to have the most resultant 

 meeting, as it may be called, with the giraffes, yet, Dick Brownell was really 

 the first member of the party to catch sight of the interesting animals. 



I have told you that the camelopard is fonder of the open plain than the wooded 

 sections, but they frequently enter the groves, in quest of the succulent leaves, of 

 which they are fond. It so happened that fully a score were engaged in feeding 

 in the jungle into which the five men rode at different points. 



Dick was advancing slowly, his senses on the alert, and in the momentary 

 expectancy of catching sight of one of the creatures, when his horse suddenly 

 pricked his ears and stopped short. 



The young rider instantly saw the cause of his alarm. A huge male giraffe was 

 standing a short distance off, with his head thrust among the lofty branches, and 

 gathering in the leaves, just as was the male which so startled Bob Marshall a few 

 minutes later. Had not the animal been so much engaged, with the leaves rustling 

 about his ears, he would have discovered the approach of the hunter before the lat- 

 ter could have seen him. 



Dick was so flustered by the sight, that he hurriedly brought his rifle to his 

 shoulder and fired. Inasmuch as he could not see the head, hidden among the 

 vegetation, he aimed at the point where he supposed it to be, but where it was not 



The report roused the animal, which withdrew his head like a flash, and, observ- 

 ing the horseman, turned in the other direction and made off at a speed that was 

 astonishing. 



Dick galloped after him, and once more raised his gun, but lowered it without 

 pulling trigger. He was confident of his ability ^o bring the tall creature to the 

 ground, but, knowing its gentle disposition, he felt little desire to do so. He con- 

 tinued his pursuit a short distance, when the fugitive disappeared, being able to 

 make better time through the jungle than could his fleeter-footed pursuer. 



Dick felt little regret over its escape, and, checking his pony, he turned the 

 other way, with the intention of rejoining his companions, when he was mystified 

 by a series of sounds which he could not understand. 



They seemed to consist of a number of short, thunderous bellows, mingling with 

 the bn'ef roars evidently uttered by another kind of animal, and were so near that 

 he looked in the direction, knowing he would catch sight of the beasts, whatever 

 they might be. 



An immense buffalo bull was standing at bay, with his back toward a laVge rock, 

 and facing a couple of male lions, that were evidently resolved to make a meal of 



