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A NIGHT ALARM |
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and it was at last decided that he should lie between them. I fastened the sail-cloth in front of the tent, and then, quite tired out by all I had done, I lay down on the soft grass with the others, and was soon sound asleep.
However, it was not long before I woke with a violent start, hearing the fowls fluttering about on the roof of the tent and the two dogs barking loudly. I sprang to my feet, and, seizing a gun, went to look out, followed by my wife and Fritz.
The dogs continued barking with the same violence, and at intervals even howled. We had hardly stepped out of the tent when, to our surprise, we saw by the light of the moon a terrible scene: at least a dozen jackals had set upon our brave dogs, who defended themselves desperately. Already the dogs had disabled one or two, and those that remained were snarling and whining.
I was relieved to see it was nothing worse.
' We shall soon set these fellows at rest,' I said. ' Let us fire both together, my boy ; but take care how you aim, for fear of killing the dogs.'
We fired, and one of the jackals instantly fell dead upon the sand. The others, terrified by the unexpected noise, scampered away. Turk and Flora raced after them, and so the matter ended. |
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