Without a moment's delay he raised his rifle and fired.
At the same moment the saplings forming the roof snapped and fell in upon them with an added weight, which knocked them flat.

They were dimly conscious of a tremendous struggle, but when they had crawled out of the litter, they were thankful to find that each was still alive.

After the first hurried words, they faced the darkness apprehensively, for their shelter was gone, and their rifles were under the branches.
"Quick!" said Compton, "help pull the branches away." Guided by the tinder, they felt for the branches and pulled, but let go at once and fell back, for a fierce growl greeted them almost in their faces.
"By Jove!" muttered Compton, "it's all over now.

Don't run; let us stick together." "I'm not running," said Venning.

"We've got our sheath-knives." They drew their knives, and, holding each other by the disengaged hand, fell back step by step, till they found the support of a tree- trunk, when they waited for the attack.