of the hill.

"They may be upon us sooner than you expect, Malchus. Their colour
well nigh matches with that of the sand, and you may not see them
until they are close upon us."

Presently a Nubian soldier standing behind Malchus touched him on
the shoulder and said in a whisper: "There they are!" pointing
at the same time across the plain.

Malchus could for a time see nothing; then he made out some indistinct
forms.

"There are six of them," the general said, "and they are making
for this grove. Get your bows ready."

Malchus could now clearly see the lions approaching. They were
advancing slowly, turning occasionally to look back as if reluctant
to quit the shelter of the hills; and Malchus could hardly resist
a start of uneasiness as one of them suddenly gave vent to a deep,
threatening roar, so menacing and terrible that the very leaves
of the trees seemed to quiver in the light of the moon under its
vibrations. The lions seemed of huge dimensions, especially the
leader of the troop, who stalked with a steady and majestic step
at their head. When within fifty yards of the grove the lions
suddenly paused; their leader apparently scented danger. Again the
deep terrible roar rose in the air, answered by an angry snarling
noise on the part of the females.

"Aim at the leader," the general whispered, "and have your brands