At　that　terrible　moment；　Staines　recovered　his　wits　enough　to　see
  that　what　little　chance　he　had　was　to　fire　into　the　destroyer；　not
  at　him。　　He　kneeled；　and　levelled　at　the　centre　of　the　lion's
  chest；　and　not　till　he　was　within　five　yards　did　he　fire。　　Through
  the　smoke　he　saw　the　lion　in　the　air　above　him；　and　rolled
  shrieking　into　the　stream　and　crawled　like　a　worm　under　the　bank；
  by　one　motion；　and　there　lay　trembling。　　A　few　seconds　of　sick
  stupor　passed：　all　was　silent。　　Had　the　lion　lost　him？　　Was　it
  possible　he　might　yet　escape？
  All　was　silent。
  He　listened；　in　agony；　for　the　sniffing　of　the　lion；　puzzling　him
  out　by　scent。
  No：　all　was　silent。
  Staines　looked　round；　and　saw　a　woolly　head；　and　two　saucer　eyes
  and　open　nostrils　close　by　him。　　It　was　the　Hottentot；　more　dead
  than　alive。
  Staines　whispered　him；　〃I　think　he　is　gone。〃
  The　Hottentot　whispered；　〃Gone　a　little　way　to　watch。　　He　is　wise
  as　well　as　strong。〃　　With　this　he　disappeared　beneath　the　water。
  Still　no　sound　but　the　screaming　of　the　vultures；　and　snarling　of
  the　hyenas　and　jackals　over　the　eland。
  〃Take　a　look；〃　said　Staines。
  〃Yes；〃　said　Squat；　〃but　not　to…day。　　Wait　here　a　day　or　two。　　Den
  he　forget　and　forgive。〃
  Now　Staines；　having　seen　the　lion　lie　down　and　watch　the　dying
  eland；　was　a　great　deal　impressed　by　this；　and　as　he　had　now　good
  hopes　of　saving　his　life；　he　would　not　throw　away　a　chance。　　He
  kept　his　head　just　above　water；　and　never　moved。
  In　this　freezing　situation　they　remained。
  Presently　there　was　a　rustling　that　made　both　crouch。
  It　was　followed　by　a　croaking　noise。
  Christopher　made　himself　small。
  The　Hottentot；　on　the　contrary；　raised　his　head；　and　ventured　a
  little　way　into　the　stream。
  By　these　means　he　saw　it　was　something　very　foul；　but　not　terrible。
  It　was　a　large　vulture　that　had　settled　on　the　very　top　of　the
  nearest　acacia。
  At　this　the　Hottentot　got　bolder　still；　and　to　the　great　surprise
  of　Staines　began　to　crawl　cautiously　into　some　rushes；　and　through
  them　up　the　bank。
  The　next　moment　he　burst　into　a　mixture　of　yelling　and　chirping　and
  singing；　and　other　sounds　so　manifestly　jubilant；　that　the　vulture
  flapped　heavily　away；　and　Staines　emerged　in　turn；　but　very
  cautiously。
  Could　he　believe　his　eyes？　　There　lay　the　lion；　dead　as　a　stone；　on
  his　back；　with　his　four　legs　in　the　air；　like　wooden　legs；　they
  were　so　very　dead：　and　the　valiant　Squat；　dancing　about　him；　and　on
  him；　and　over　him。
  Staines；　unable　to　change　his　sentiments　so　quickly；　eyed　even　the
  dead　body　of　the　royal　beast　with　awe　and　wonder。　　What！　had　he
  already　laid　that　terrible　monarch　low；　and　with　a　tube　made　in　a
  London　shop　by　men　who　never　saw　a　lion　spring；　nor　heard　his　awful
  roar　shake　the　air？　　He　stood　with　his　heart　still　beating；　and
  said　not　a　word。　　The　shallow　Hottentot　whipped　out　a　large　knife；
  and　began　to　skin　the　king　of　beasts。　　Staines　wondered　he　could　so
  profane　that　masterpiece　of　nature。　　He　felt　more　inclined　to　thank
  God　for　so　great　a　preservation；　and　then　pass　reverently　on；　and
  leave　the　dead　king　undesecrated。
  He　was　roused　from　his　solemn　thoughts　by　the　reflection　that　there
  might　be　a　lioness　about；　since　there　were　cubs：　he　took　a　piece　of
  paper；　emptied　his　remaining　powder　into　it；　and　proceeded　to　dry
  it　in　the　sun。　　This　was　soon　done；　and　then　he　loaded　both
  barrels。
  By　this　time　the　adroit　Hottentot　had　flayed　the　carcass
  sufficiently　to　reveal　the　mortal　injury。　　The　projectile　had
  entered　the　chest；　and　slanting　upwards；　had　burst　among　the
  vitals；　reducing　them　to　a　gory　pulp。　　The　lion　must　have　died　in
  the　air；　when　he　bounded　on　receiving　the　fatal　shot。
  The　Hottentot　uttered　a　cry　of　admiration。　　〃Not　the　lion　king　of
  all；　nor　even　the　white　man；〃　he　said；　〃but　Enfeel　rifle！〃
  Staines's　eyes　glittered。　　〃You　shall　have　it；　and　the　horse；　for
  your　diamond；〃　said　he　eagerly。
  The　black　seemed　a　little　shaken；　but　did　not　reply。　　He　got　out　of
  it　by　going　on　with　his　lion；　and　Staines　eyed　him；　and　was
  bitterly　disappointed　at　not　getting　the　diamond　even　on　these
  terms。　　He　began　to　feel　he　should　never　get　it：　they　were　near　the
  high…road；　he　could　not　keep　the　Hottentot　to　himself　much　longer。
  He　felt　sick　at　heart。　　He　had　wild　and　wicked　thoughts；　half　hoped
  the　lioness　would　come　and　kill　the　Hottentot；　and　liberate　the
  jewel　that　possessed　his　soul。
  At　last　the　skin　was　off；　and　the　Hottentot　said；　〃Me　take　this　to
  my　kraal；　and　dey　all　say；　'Squat　a　great　shooter；　kill　um　lion。'〃
  Then　Staines　saw　another　chance　for　him；　and　summoned　all　his
  address　for　a　last　effort。　　〃No；　Squat；〃　said　he；　〃that　skin
  belongs　to　me。　　I　shot　the　lion；　with　the　only　rifle　that　can　kill
  a　lion　like　a　cat。　　Yet　you　would　not　give　me　a　diamonda　paltry
  stone　for　it。　　No；　Squat；　if　you　were　to　go　into　your　village　with
  that　lion's　skin；　why　the　old　men　would　bend　their　heads　to　you；
  and　say；　'Great　is　Squat！　　He　killed　the　lion；　and　wears　his　skin。'
  The　young　women　would　all　fight　which　should　be　the　wife　of　Squat。
  Squat　would　be　king　of　the　village。〃
  Squat's　eyes　began　to　roll。
  〃And　shall　I　give　the　skin；　and　the　glory　that　is　my　due；　to　an
  ill…natured　fellow；　who　refuses　me　his　paltry　diamond　for　a　good
  horselook　at　himand　for　the　rifle　that　kills　lions　like
  rabbitsbehold　it；　and　a　hundred　pounds　in　good　gold　and　Dutch
  notessee；　and　for　the　lion's　skin；　and　glory；　and　honor；　and　a
  rich　wife；　and　to　be　king　of　Africa？　　Never！〃
  The　Hottentot's　hands　and　toes　began　to　work　convulsively。　　〃Good
  master；　Squat　ask　pardon。　　Squat　was　blind。　　Squat　will　give　the
  diamond；　the　great　diamond　of　Africa；　for　the　lion's　skin；　and　the
  king　rifle；　and　the　little　horse；　and　the　gold；　and　Dutch　notes
  every　one　of　them。　　Dat　make　just　two　hundred　pounds。〃
  〃More　like　four　hundred；〃　cried　Staines　very　loud。　　〃And　how　do　I
  know　it　is　a　diamond？　　These　large　stones　are　the　most　deceitful。
  Show　it　me；　this　instant；〃　said　he　imperiously。
  〃Iss；　master；〃　said　the　crushed　Hottentot；　with　the　voice　of　a
  mouse；　and　put　the　stone　into　his　hand　with　a　child…like　faith　that
  almost　melted　Staines；　but　he　saw　he　must　be　firm。　　〃Where　did　you
  find　it？〃　he　bawled。
  〃Master；〃　said　poor　Squat；　in　deprecating　tones；　〃my　little　master
  at　the　farm　wanted　plaster。　　He　send　to　Bulteel's　pan；　dere　was
  large　lumps。　　Squat　say　to　miners；　'May　we　take　de　large　lumps？
  Dey　say；　'Yes；　take　de　cursed　lumps　we　no　can　break。'　　We　took　de
  cursed　lumps。　　We　ride　'em　in　de　cart　to　farm　twenty　milses。　　I
  beat　'em　with　my　hammer。　　Dey　is　very　hard。　　More　dey　break　my
  heart　dan　I　break　their　cursed　heads。　　One　day　I　use　strong　words；
  like　white　man；　and　I　hit　one　large　lump　too　hard；　he　break；　and
  out　come　de　white　clear　stone。　　Iss；　him　diamond。　　Long　time　we
  know　him　in　our　kraal；　because　he　hard。　　Long　time　before　ever
  white　man　know　him；　tousand　years　ago；　we　find　him；　and　he　make　us
  lilly　hole　in　big　stone　for　make　wheat　dust。　　Him　a　diamond；　blank
  my　eyes！〃
  This　was　intended　as　a　solemn　form　of　asseveration　adapted　to　the
  white　man's　habits。
  Yes；　reader；　he　told　the　truth；　and　strange　to　say；　the　miners　knew
  the　largest　stones　were　in　these　great　lumps　of　carbonate；　but　then
  the　lumps　were　so　cruelly　hard；　they　lost　all　patience　with　them；
  and　so；　finding　it　was　no　use　to　break　some　of　them；　and　not　all；
  they　rejected　them　all；　with　curses；　and　thus　this　great　stone　was
  carted　away　as　rubbish　from　the　mine；　and　found；　like　a　toad　in　a
  hole；　by　Squat。
  〃Well；〃　said　Christopher；　〃after　all；　you　are　an　honest　fellow；　and
  I　think　I　will　buy　it；　but　first　you　must　show　me　out　of　this　wood；
  I　am　not　going　to　be　eaten　alive　in　it　for　want　of　the　king　of
  rifles。〃
  Squat　assented　eagerly；　and　they　started　at　once。　　They　passed　the
  skeleton　of　the　eland；　its　very　bones　were　polished；　and　its　head
  carried　into　the　wood；　and　looking　back　they　saw　vultures　busy　on
  the　lion。　　They　soon　cleared　the　wood。
  Squat　handed　Staines　the　diamondwhen　it　touched　his　hand；　as　his
  own；　a　bolt　of　ice　seemed　to　run　down　his　back；　and　hot　water　to
  follow　itand　the　money；　horse；　rifle；　and　skin　were　made　over　to
  Squat。
  〃Shake　hands　over　it；　Squat；〃　said　Staines；　〃you　are　hard；　but　you
  are　honest。〃
  〃Iss；　master；　I　a　good　much　hard　and　honest；〃　said　Squat。
  〃Good…by；　old　fellow。〃
  〃Good…by；　master。〃
  And　Squat　strutted　away；　with　the　halter　in　his　hand；　horse
  following　him；　rifle　under　his　arm；　and　the　lion's　skin　over　his
  shoulders；　and　the　tail　trailing；　a　figure　sublime　in　his　own　eyes；
  ridiculous　in　creation's。　　So　vanity　triumphed；　even　in　the　wilds
  of　Africa。
  Staines　hurried　forward　on　foot；　loading　his　revolver　as　he　went；
  for　the　very　vicinity　of　the　wood　alarmed　him　now　that　he　had
  parted　with　his　trusty　rifle。
  That　night　he　lay　down　on　the　open　veldt；　in　his　jackal's　skin；
  with　no　weapon　but　his　revolver；　and　woke　with　a　start　a　dozen
  times。　　Just　before　daybreak　he　scanned　the　stars　carefully；　and
  noting　exactly　where　the　sun　rose；　made　a　rough　guess　at　his
  course；　and　followed　it　till　the　sun　was　too　hot；　then　he　crept
  under　a　ragged　bush；　hung　up　his　jackal's　skin；　and　sweated　ther