CHAPTER LXXI. 



JUMBO AND TOUNG TALOUNG. 



/ "k S I said, Dick could not have asked for a better target than was given by the 



glimpse of the glaring eye-balls on the other side of the camp-fire, for the 



organs themselves were not only in sight, but he plainly saw the outlines of 



the wild beast, which he suspected was a cheetah or hunting leopard, an animal 



rarely found out of India. 



This brute is not so large nor fine-looking as the leopard, and its name is due to 

 the fact that it can be tamed and trained to assist the hunter in bringing down deer. 

 It is lighter than the panther and lives much in the lower branches of large trees, 

 where the female brings forth its young. In its wild state it is stealthy and treach- 

 erous like all of its kind. 



At the very moment Dick pulled the trigger, the stillness around him was such 

 that he caught the faint rustle made by the second animal stealing upon him from 

 the rear. 



The bullet had hardly left the barrel, when the lad whirled about like a flash and 

 confronted the danger behind him. 



He was not an instant too soon. 



The second cheetah, which was much larger than the first, was no more than a 

 dozen feet distant, crouching low and gathering himself for his deadly spring. 



Since Dick's gun was discharged, it will be seen that his situation was extremely 

 dangerous, inasmuch as the animal was quite sure to attack before he could reload 

 his weapon. 



But Mr. Godkin's long experience had taught him not only to awaken from a 

 sound slumber with all his senses at command, but to know that when thus 

 awakened by the leport of a gun, his services were almost certain to be in im- 

 mediate need. 



Before the other members of the party were fairly aroused, and before the 

 youth's situation had become hopelessly desperate, the director's weapon was fired, 

 and the second cheetah perished almost as quickly as the first. 



Meanwhile, the reports of the rifles had brought the others to their feet. The 

 horses had been aroused, too, but they merely opened their eyes without rising. 



A few seconds were enough to understand what had taken place, the dead 

 bodies of the cheetahs near the camp-fire bearing witness to the accuracy of the 

 aim of Dick and Mr. Godkin. 



I believe they have been hanging around the camp ever since the fire was 

 kindled," said Mr. Godkin, " and since there may be more of them, I will bear you 

 company until daylight, which is not far off." 



