Next second there came a noise of galloping hoofs, and before I could even rise my poor horse appeared in the ring of firelight.

As in a flash of lightning I saw his staring eyes and wide-stretched nostrils, and the broken reim with which he had been knee-haltered, flying in the air.

Also I saw something else, for on his back was a great dark form with glowing eyes, and from the form came a growling sound.

It was a lion.
The horse dashed on.

He galloped right through the fire, for which he had run in his terror, fortunately, however, without treading on us, and vanished into the night.