"Great Scott!" exclaimed Max, unable to restrain his admiration.
"That lion," said Crouch, "looked straight at me for about three seconds, and then quietly turned round and walked away, swishing the flies from his body with his tail. As soon as he thought he was out of sight, he broke into a gallop. It was beneath his dignity, I suppose, to let me see he was frightened. He had got to live up to his reputation."
"Is that actually true?" asked Max.
"As true as I'm standing here. All lions are naturally frightened of anything they can't understand. That particular animal couldn't make me out, didn't like the look of me; so he just walked away. The lions in this valley can have had little or no experience of white men. I therefore refuse to believe that our breakfast has been stolen by a lion. Shall I tell you who I believe is the culprit?"
"Who?" asked Max.
"Gyp," said Crouch; "Cæsar's dog. Cæsar himself could hardly have got here by now. Yesterday afternoon I reconnoitred some way up the river, and saw no signs of a canoe. But the dog could have found its way through the jungle. It seems improbable, no doubt; but I can think of no better explanation."
Indeed, this was the only solution of the matter, and they resolved to be upon their guard.
The following day they determined to explore the rapids. They were already acquainted with the river-valley between Hippo Pool and Makanda, but as yet they knew nothing of the country which lay between their camp and the mangrove swamp on the Kasai. M'Wané, from the cocoanut-tree, had caught sight of the Long Ravine, which ended in the waterfall of which the natives had told them, the dull roar of which was frequently audible at Hippo Pool when the wind was in the right direction. They did not expect Edward back for some days, and each was of the disposition that chafes under the restraint of inaction.
Accordingly, soon after daybreak they launched the canoe, and taking with them three days' supplies and a quantity of ammunition, they shot down-stream to the north. The descent of the river was easy enough. Throughout the journey Crouch kept his eye on the current. Since this grew stronger and stronger as they progressed, he did not desire to go too far, knowing full well that the return journey would be by no means easy to accomplish.
At a place where the river was exceedingly narrow, and the jungle on either bank even more dense and tangled than usual, they heard, on a sudden, the crashing of undergrowth in the forest, as if some great beast were flying for its life. A moment later a leopard sprang clear from the river bank. For a second the beast was poised in mid-air, its legs extended at full length, its ears lying back, its superb coat dazzling in the sunlight. Then it came down into the water with a splash.