The boys and the doctor had somehow been so impressed by the beauty of the scene that they spoke in whispers, Mark finding words just to say, "Oh, I wish father were here! I did ask him to come, but he wanted to rest." "Yes," said the doctor; "we have had a very long day. But how beautiful! How grand! We ought to stay up here till the stars come out.--Eh, what do you say, Mak?" as the man touched his shoulder and pointed again right away into the west. "All gone," he said. "Yes, all gone," said the doctor, using the black's simple words. "Sunshine come again, 'morrow morning." "Yes," said the doctor thoughtfully, as he stood trying to pierce the soft transparent limpidity of the coming night. "Boys, we shall never forget this." "Ah," said the black, thumping down the haft of his spear upon the massive block where he had perched himself some two hundred feet above the plain. "Mak knows Mak's big stones." "What!" cried Mark excitedly. "Is that where the old city lies?" "Umps, yes," said the black. "Mak big stones." CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. "DON'T SHOOT, FATHER!" "Why, we are as snug here as can be," said Dean. "Should be," said Mark, "if it wasn't for that fire." For the night set in dark--a night which would have been of intense blackness but for the brilliant points of light that shone down like effulgent jewels spread upon a sky of the deepest purple dye. But it was light enough within the enclosure formed by the perpendicular patch of granite rock, the two waggons, and the dense mass of thorny faggots which had been gathered and built up so as to hedge them in. A goodly portion of the fourth opening into the little kraal was filled up by the large fire which was burning for the protection of the bullocks and ponies, and thoroughly lit up the camping place, but in return for its protection extorted the suffering from the heat, not only in front but reflected down from the rocks behind. "Yes," said Dean, "it is rather a roaster. Couldn't we let it out now?" "No," said the doctor decisively. "I have just been outside to have a look round with Mak. We were only out for a few minutes, and the black caught me twice by the arm to listen." "Well, did you hear anything?" said Mark. "Yes; lions." The boy made a movement as if to reach his rifle. "You need not do that," said the doctor, "for the sounds were distant. Still, lions travel fast, and we might have a visit at any time; so you see that you have an answer to your proposal about letting the fire out." "Yes," said Dean; "that settles it." "Besides," said the doctor, "we should not be any cooler if there were no fire." "Oh-h-h!" said Mark, in a tone that suggested doubt. "Don't be too sceptical, my boy," said the doctor. "Let me prove it to you. Come a little nearer the fire." The doctor had led the way, and together they stood so near to the glowing flames that they looked to those whom they left behind like a pair of figures cut out of black cloth.