It cannot be said that the constable was very enthusiastic, for there was something in the idea of hunting the king of beasts without firearms which was as terrifying as it was grotesque.
However, he could not refuse, and the four started down the road and across the field, in the direction of the large tract of forest in which it was known the lion had taken refuge when he broke from his cage the day before.
A walk of something like a third of a mile took the party to the edge of the wood, where they stopped and held a consultation in whispers.
None of them were so brave as they seemed a short time before, and all secretly wished they were safe at home.
"I don't see how you can expect to find him by hunting in the night time, when you have made no preparation," said Archie Jackson, strongly impressed with the absurdity of the whole business.
"But I have made preparation," answered Scrapton, in the same guarded undertone.
"How?"
"I killed a pig and threw him over the fence yonder by that pile of rocks—good heavens!"
At the moment of pointing his finger to indicate the spot, all heard a low cavernous growl, which sent a shiver of affright from head to foot.