Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/207

 went down a decline. Nearer and nearer crept the pursuers, their shouts now reaching us, but before they could get within good shooting distance we caught the glimmer of the Rio, where in the dry season the stream is a mere trickle. Smash went the head cart against a bowlder, and a wheel was broken into toothpicks. Then in a second we were all out, making for the rock-studded stream, while the soldiers coming up dismouted [sic] and began to take pot-shots at us.

"They had got wind of our game someway and did not seem to be greatly surprised at beholding four fierce denizens of the jungle scrambling, wading, and swimming through the stream, each armed with a rifle or revolver.

"I reached home-base first, closely followed by Collins. And, sir, I shall never forget that spectacle. There was the lion, unable to loosen his head-piece, swearing profusely in rich Celtic as he sent back shot for shot. There were the hyena and tiger, very chummy, using revolvers. And in the rear, in the midst of the danger zone, old Tiberius was ruining his show-clothes by supporting the bear by the scruff of the neck. I howled to the lion, and he fiercely turned and went back to assist my patron. Once they got Burke ashore we found a neat bullet-hole through his neck, but no arteries or large veins were cut. And I didn't feel a bit bad when I saw