The
weapon had fallen from his person at the time Crabtree had pitched
him into the hollow. He reached for it, and to his joy found that
it was fully loaded and ready for use.
Presently he heard the bushes overhead thrust aside, and then came
a half roar, half whine that made him jump. Looking up, he saw a
lion standing on the edge of the hollow facing him.
The monarch of the forest was holding one of his forepaws up and
now he sat down on his haunches to lick the limb. Then he set up
another whine and shook the limb painfully.
"He has hurt that paw," thought Dick. "Wonder if he sees me?"
Yes, he did see, just at that instant, and started back in
astonishment. Then his face took on a fierce look and he gave a
roar which could be heard for miles around.
Crack! It was the report of Dick's pistol, but the youth was
nervous, and the bullet merely glanced along the lion's body,
doing little or no damage. The beast roared again, then crouched
down and prepared to leap upon the youth.
But the wounded forepaw was a hindrance to the lion's movements,
and he began to crawl along the hollow's edge, seeking a better
point from which to make a leap.
Then Dick's pistol spoke up a second time.
This shot was a far better one, and the bullet passed directly
through the knee-joint of the lion's left forepaw. He was now
wounded in both fore limbs, and set up a roar which seemed to
fairly make the jungle tremble.
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