midday
`` But they are both cut about the faces with stones . '' This being the case , it was decided to try and scare off the little vicious animals with a few charges of duck-shot , reserving the bullets in their rifles in cases of extremity . Dinny said he was too much hurt to go to the attack ; but the rest of the forces were collected , and , led by Peter , they made their way up over the ridge into the next valley ; but no baboons were in sight , and though they went on their trail for some little distance , it seemed to be a useless task ; so , sending part of their little company back , Mr Rogers went in one direction , the boys in another , to pass round a rocky hill and meet upon the other side . Everything was very silent in the stillness of the hot midday , and what with the sun 's torrid beams , and the reflection from the rocks , progress was very slow , till a faint bleating noise , that seemed to come from behind a patch of rocks , made the boys cock their pieces , and approach cautiously . They were so accustomed to hunting now , that they had no difficulty in stalking up to the clump of rocks , and there , sheltered behind some bushes , they stood with presented pieces , ready to fire , but hesitating for a time before the novelty of the scene . Just in a depression amongst the rocks , where there was an open patch of fine grass , crouched an antelope , with a glossy black skin , and a pair of the longest and most beautifully curved horns they had ever seen . Dick knew it in a moment as the swart vitpense , or lion-killer , as it was called by the Boers ; and sure enough it was there at bay before a large tawny lion , crouched ready to spring , but hesitating to bound and impale itself upon those two finely pointed horns , which the antelope 's lowered head pointed straight for the charge .