The night passed quietly by. Denis was the first to open his eyes. It was broad daylight. On looking up through the branches, he observed that the sky was completely obscured.
“Hallo! we must have had a long snooze,” he exclaimed. “Are you all right, Percy?”
“Somewhat stiff and sore, but I shall feel better when I have stretched my legs, I daresay,” answered Percy. “Dear me! the fire has gone out.”
“Then the sooner we get down and light it the better,” said Denis.
They descended from their roosting places, Denis carefully handing down the guns to Percy, who went first. They then helped Raff to reach the ground.
“Take care! I saw a lion close to the tree, just before I went to sleep, and he may perhaps be in the neighbourhood,” observed Percy.
“You dreamed about one probably, as I did,” said Denis, “and a fearful roaring I fancied he made.”
Percy assured him that he had seen a real lion, and described it so minutely, and the visit of the jackals and hyenas, that Denis was almost convinced. He was thoroughly so when, on looking towards the spot where the snake had been, he saw that not a particle of it remained.
“Hallo! what has become of Fangs?” he exclaimed.
“The lion, I fear, has carried him off,” answered Percy.