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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