The two lions continued to prowl up and down, licking their chops and occasionally glancing at the top of the rock. Suddenly they halted in the middle of their beat, and, pricking up their ears, assumed an expectant attitude.
“They hear something,” said Guy. “I wonder what it can be.”
For a full minute the two noble beasts stood like bits of statuary, not a muscle quivering, their tails slowly waving to and fro. Then with a couple of bounds they vanished in the high grass.
“The siege is raised,” exclaimed Guy, breathing a low sigh of relief.
“Hush,” replied Canaris, “not a sound, not a whisper for your lives. Down, down, crouch low; throw yourselves flat!”
His voice was tremulous with sudden fear, and his hand shook as he pointed one nerveless finger in the direction taken by the lions.
“Look, look!” he muttered with chattering teeth. “One sound and we are doomed.”