"And how have you dealt with the disputants, Professor?" laughed Lethbridge. "Oh! there was but one way to deal with them, and I took it," answered the professor. "I shot them, and they are among those rushes. The dogs were the worst, because there were so many of them, and they were so persistent. But I drove them off at last." "You appear to have had a busy time, to judge by the look of things!" exclaimed Sir Reginald. And indeed there was abundant evidence of this when the new arrivals came to look more closely; for the carcases of eight wild dogs-- creatures as big as Siberian wolves, and quite as formidable-looking-- were in plain view, showing how determinedly they had attempted to "rush" the professor, while others could be seen partially hidden among the reeds, together with those of the leopard and one of the lions. "Well, you have richly earned your breakfast, so come aboard and have it," exclaimed Lethbridge. "Nothing is likely to interfere with your unicorns, now that this big ship is so close alongside. But to make quite sure that no accident happens, I will get a rifle and mount guard up here if you like, while you get your bath and breakfast." So it was arranged; and half an hour later von Schalckenberg entertained the other occupants of the breakfast-table with a lively and graphic account of the adventures of himself and Mildmay during the night, from the moment of their departure from the ship. That was a busy day for the five male members of the party, for of course the professor insisted that the skins of the unicorns must be removed with the utmost care, and the observance of every precaution against stretching or otherwise injuring the rather thin and delicate hides, which made the task of removal a somewhat protracted one. And when at length this was successfully achieved, there still remained the carcases of four lions, one leopard, and a python to be dealt with. It was consequently well on in the afternoon ere the somewhat disagreeable task was over, and the men were free to bathe, change their clothing, and generally make themselves presentable. This done, the _Flying Fish_ was taken back to her former berth on the bush-encircled area of open ground, it having been unanimously agreed to spend a few days longer in so splendid a game country as this seemed to be. But all were agreed that, after their exertions of the day, they were rather too tired to enjoy a night's watching among the reeds of the lake. The entire party therefore adjourned to the music-room for an hour or two after dinner, and retired early to their cabins to recuperate in readiness for whatever the morrow might have in store for them.