That was no donkey standing there, with its huge head now sunk almost to the ground, now lifted high, as it tried to make out what manner of living creature it was crouching there by the rock above! Venning felt the hair stir on his head as the two animals stood gazing at him, and then he knew.

The one behind sank to the ground, and with long steps began to creep round to the right.

The moon struck along its side, and showed the tawny hide and the whitish under-parts of a lioness.

The other, then, was a lion! With a sort of gurgling in his throat he turned his eyes to it, and he saw it trotting up straight for him, its shaggy mane giving to its head and shoulders an enormous size.

He felt spell-bound, incapable of moving hand or foot.