The weapons having been selected and a sufficient supply of cartridges slipped into each man's pocket, the hunters ascended to the deck to take a preliminary look round with their binoculars, upon the off-chance that they might catch a glimpse of something that would help them to a decision as to the point to which to direct their steps. And here they discovered that the ladies had preceded them, Lady Olivia, Mlle. Sziszkinski, and Ida being already there and intently searching the rocks with their glasses. "Well, Ida," demanded Sir Reginald, "how many lions have you already seen?" "None at all, papa," answered the child, in a playfully aggrieved tone of voice. "I saw a deer standing upon that highest rock, a few minutes ago, but he did not stay there long. As to lions, I think we are not very likely to see any; we cannot see very much of the rocks from this place, and I should like to be able to watch you when you go out to shoot the lions. Cannot we move the ship to a place nearer the rocks, where we can see everything?" "Of course we can, little woman," answered Sir Reginald, genially. "And, while we are about it," he added, turning to the others, "we may as well make a complete circuit of the entire patch--execute a reconnaissance, in fact; it may enable us to discover some trace of our quarry, and so save us a long, toilsome tramp in the heat." And, thereupon, he returned to the pilot-house to put the big ship in motion. A few seconds later, with a gentle and almost imperceptible jar, the _Flying Fish_ rose from the ground to the height of about two hundred feet, and, with her engines only just turning, began to circle slowly round the somewhat extensive outcrop, while the party on deck keenly searched with their binoculars the several irregularities of its surface as they swung into view. For some twenty minutes or so the search proved unsuccessful, and the men were beginning to feel just a trifle anxious when Lethbridge exclaimed, with a sigh of relief-- "Ah! now we are getting `warm,' as Ida would say. Do you see that small bunch of gazelle drinking at the pool yonder? Where they are, there also--or not very far off--will our friend Leo be, I fancy."