Dead Man's Land Part 27

The flashes from the mouths of the rifles looked slight in the glow of the flames, and the reports rang out loudly, to be followed by a fierce yell and a snarling roar, as, feeling awestricken by what was taking place, the boys pictured to themselves amidst the low growth the huge lion tearing about in its rage and pain.

"I'd keep quiet, gentlemen," whispered Buck. "One of us has. .h.i.t another, and if he made out where we were he might charge."

The man ceased speaking as the tearing and raging about of the wounded beasts went on, but evidently growing more distant, till their snapping and snarling were almost drowned by the fierce, loud crackling of the burning fire.

"It's crawling away," whispered Mark excitedly.

"Yes, sir. He's got it," replied the driver; "but I would keep quiet, or we may bring him back to pay us."

For some minutes no one spoke, while the fire was freshly fed by the black, who looked almost diabolical as he danced about it in a strange way, ending by approaching the group, who crouched behind some bushes, which would have made but a frail breastwork had one of the lions charged.

A quarter of an hour must have elapsed before anyone spoke again, and during that time the crackling of the burning wood, which now lit up a wide circle, was the only sound that was heard.

"Do you think we may move now, Denham?" said the doctor. "Or would you fire a few more charges?"

"I don't want to waste powder and shot, sir, and I think they are all gone. Here, Mak, my lad, lions gone?"

The black made no reply, but came cautiously close up and listened.

"Come," he said, and in obedience to his brief command Buck, the doctor, and Bob Bacon ranged themselves with presented rifles on either side, and, not to be outdone, the two boys ran forward to join the advancing party as well.

The spot where the feline marauders had been busy over their prey was not above sixty yards from the last waggon, and as the little party advanced, gaining confidence from the silence that reigned, and reducing the distance to about half, gazing searchingly the while at what looked like a breastwork of leaves lit up by the fire, the silence seemed to be awful, and as if moved by one impulse all stopped short at the end of another ten yards.

"Must be gone, I think, gentlemen," whispered Buck; "but be ready to fire, for they are treacherous beasts, and one may be lying there badly wounded but with life enough in him to do mischief after all."

"Hadn't we better wait till daylight?" whispered the doctor.

"It will mean so long, sir," said the driver, rather gruffly. "I think we might risk it now, Mak," he cried, and he added a few words in the black's dialect. "He's willing, gentlemen," said the driver quietly.

"Let's all go on again."

Then slowly and cautiously the little line advanced, till all at once the black stopped, holding his spear point low and the haft pressed into the ground, for there was a savage roar, and a huge lion, which looked golden, made a tremendous bound right out into the light.

Dean uttered a cry, and the brute couched, snarling fiercely, with the boy lying beneath the monster's outstretched paws.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

WHO WATCHED THE FIRE?

"Back, Mark! Back, boy!" cried Sir James wildly. "No, no; don't shoot," he continued.

The words were unnecessary, for the advancing men, stunned as it were by the catastrophe, stood fast, rifle to shoulder, not daring to draw trigger for fear of injuring the lion's prisoner; but as if deaf to his father's command, Mark continued to advance on one side, the black on the other, till they were close up to the great furious beast, whose eyes were glowing like the fire reflected in them, while its horrent mane stood up as if every hair were a separate wire of gold.

The savage brute, as if contented with having captured its prey, couched there perfectly still, glaring at its approaching enemies as if waiting before making its next spring, and then, exactly together, from one side the black plunged the keen blade of his long spear into its shoulder, while from the other Mark, thrusting forward his rifle, drew trigger not a yard away, sending a bullet right into the monster's skull.

There was a hoa.r.s.e yell, a sharp crack, the lion threw itself over backward, rolled over twice, slowly stretching itself out with extended paws tearing at the earth, and then lay still.

"Dean!" cried Mark, dropping on one knee. "Oh, don't say you are hurt!"

The boy slowly rose to his knees, staring confusedly at his cousin, while the doctor dashed forward in company with Sir James to examine the boy's injuries.

"Dean, my boy," cried Sir James, "pray, pray speak!" And he caught at the boy's arms.

Dean heard him and turned to look at him in a curious, half dazed way, but in spite of appeal after appeal he made no reply, but began to draw his handkerchief from his breast and to wipe his face, which was covered with blood and foam from the lion's lips. Then giving a strange, half hysterical cry, he exclaimed, "Oh, uncle, it was horrid--horrid!"

"But where were you hurt?" cried Mark excitedly, adding half angrily, "Why don't you speak?"

The boy looked at him wonderingly, as if too much confused to reply; then uttering a long-drawn sigh he said quietly, "Hurt? No, I don't think so. I say, Mark, do go and fetch my boots."

"Oh, Dean, my boy," cried Sir James, half angrily, "you made us think you were half killed!"

"Did I, uncle?" said the boy quietly. "I couldn't help it."

"Help it, no," cried Sir James. "And you, Mark, how dared you do such a rash thing?"

"I don't know, father. I was horribly frightened all the time, but I felt I must; and," he added quickly, "I say, I killed the lion--didn't I, doctor?"

"Yes, and we must have that skin. Ah, take care, Mak!"

For the black was advancing towards the dangerous enemy, and he looked back at the doctor, laughed, showing his glistening teeth, and then seizing the broken haft of his spear, he planted one bare foot upon the creature's shoulder, gave a tug or two, and drew it away, to stand looking dolefully at the two pieces of the weapon, which he held together as if to see whether it was possible to mend them again.

"Now, doctor," said Sir James, as the two boys stood together, whispering, "we must run no more of these horrible risks. It is quite likely that another of the furious beasts may be lying not far away.

What do you say, Denham?"

"Yes, sir; there's another one of them, I expect--dead or alive--not far off, and perhaps we had better wait till daylight. Suppose we go right up to the fire, for nothing will follow us there."

"The fire!" said the doctor sharply. "How was it we were surprised like this? You should have made it up, Mark. It was your duty to do so at the end of your watch."

"I did, sir," protested Mark, in a injured tone, "and told Peter Dance to keep it well up when I left him."

"Dance!--Ah, yes, Dance," cried the doctor. "Where is he? Has anyone see him?"

There was no reply, but eyes were turned in all directions, as if it were possible that he might be lying there.

"Poor fellow!" said Sir James sadly. "Something must have happened to him. Here, someone, hail. He may be lying wounded, and looking to us for help."

"Cooey! Cooey! Cooey!" cried Bob Bacon, and then "Cooey!" again, while in dread of fresh calamity all listened for the reply that did not come.

"Oh," cried Mark at last, "a lion must have leaped upon him and pulled him down while he was going his rounds."

"Not likely, sir," said Buck Denham, "with the ponies and all them bullocks about."

"Then where can he be?" cried Mark. "Don't you think a lion may have leaped upon him when he was making up the fire?"

"Might, sir," said the man, "but lions are not likely to go near a fire.

I want the day to break, so that we may follow the spoor. What I am hoping is that Peter may have been scared, and will turn up as soon as it is day and he feels safe."