“Lions, a whole army of them. They seem determined to stop our way,” he answered.
“If there were a hundred of them they should not
do that,” replied my uncle. “We’ll have a look at the gentlemen. We shall soon drive them off if I mistake not.”
As it would have been imprudent to carry the cattle and horses into the neighbourhood, a halt was called, and the blacks were left in charge of the animals, while we, with Hans Scarff, prepared to ride forward.
“Stay!” said Harry. “I think we have got something to send them to the rightabout, if our shouts fail to drive them away.” And going to the waggon he produced half-a-dozen rockets.
“One of those will do,” observed his father, “for we may want the rest for another emergency. However, you can carry a couple in case one should fail.”
Led by Toko, we proceeded along the defile, when, on reaching some high ground, we saw, collected together below us among the rocks, an immense number of lions. There must have been several families, fathers and mothers with their young ones. What could have brought them together to that spot, it was difficult to conjecture. Toko declared that they knew we were about to pass that way, and had assembled for the purpose of attacking us. Of course such an idea was ridiculous; however, there they were, and had we passed close to them, they might have committed serious havoc among our cattle, although we should no doubt have shot down many of them. They must have seen us, from the way they lashed their tails and muttered; while, from the loud roars which three or four of the elders gave forth, it was pretty clear that they meant mischief.
We, however, rode forward determined to drive them away. Harry and I, in the meantime, got the rockets ready to fire in case our shouts should fail to produce the desired effect. As we got nearer there was a general movement among them. As we shouted they roared in return, apparently not being alarmed by the sound of our voices.
“We must not remain unarmed, so let only three fire at a time, while the others reload,” said my uncle. “Now fire!”