And he was about to dash out of the covert, when Frank clutched his arm.
“Hold on!” cried the young inventor.
“Yis, sor.”
“Don’t be reckless. There may be a mate to that fellow near.”
The warning was well timed. Indeed, a frightful roar was heard, and from another thicket a second lion bounded forth.
This was too much for Barney. He subsided at once and was submissive as a lamb.
The second lion seemed fiercer and larger than the first. The beast remained for some moments stationary, but roaring and lashing its tail.
Then suddenly it began to advance until quite near its mate’s side. The scent of the blood was enough.
With long strides the monster came straight for the covert where the hunters were confined.
Frank had just time to shout: