might not be developed at all; and though I was an old hand at this
sort of business I was anxious about Harry, for it is wonderful how
the presence of anybody to whom one is attached unnerves a man in
moments of danger. I know, although it was now chilly enough, I could
feel the perspiration running down my nose, and in order to relieve
the strain on my attention employed myself in watching a beetle which
appeared to be attracted by the firelight, and was sitting before it
thoughtfully rubbing his antennæ against each other.

"Suddenly, the beetle gave such a jump that he nearly pitched headlong
into the fire, and so did we all--gave jumps, I mean, and no wonder,
for from right under the skerm fence there came a most frightful roar
--a roar that literally made the Scotch cart shake and took the breath
out of me.

"Harry made an exclamation, Jim-Jim howled outright, while the poor
oxen, who were terrified almost out of their hides, shivered and lowed
piteously.

"The night was almost entirely dark now, for the moon had quite set,
and the clouds had covered up the stars, so that the only light we had
came from the fire, which by this time was burning up brightly again.
But, as you know, firelight is absolutely useless to shoot by, it is
so uncertain, and besides, it penetrates but a very little way into
the darkness, although if one is in the dark outside, one can see it
from far away.

"Presently the oxen, after standing still for a moment, suddenly
winded the lion and did what I feared they would do--began to 'skrek,'
that is, to try and break loose from the trektow to which they were