Allan Quatermain Stories · Chapter
III: Jim-Jim Is Avenged explained
After burying Jim-Jim, Quatermain and Harry set a trap for the lioness using a sick ox as bait.
What happens
After burying Jim-Jim, Quatermain and Harry set a trap for the lioness using a sick ox as bait. During a tense night vigil, two male lions arrive and fight over the wounded lioness. Harry impulsively shoots one, causing the lions to turn on each other. Quatermain eventually shoots the victorious lion, avenging Jim-Jim.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Danger
The chapter is filled with perilous encounters with lions and the constant threat of death.
Courage and Heroism
Quatermain and Harry display bravery in setting a trap and facing the lions, culminating in avenging Jim-Jim.
Friendship and Loyalty
The bond between Quatermain and Harry is evident as they work together to avenge their companion Jim-Jim.
Characters to notice
- Allan Quatermain
Narrates the chapter; plans and executes the revenge on the lioness.
- Sir Henry Curtis
Referred to as Harry; weeps for Jim-Jim and impulsively fires at the black-maned lion.
- Pharaoh
Uses bad language in Zulu; refuses to act as bait but leads the sick ox to the tree.
- Jim
Jim-Jim is killed by the lioness; his remains are buried in a bread-bag.
- Lion
The black-maned lion fights and is killed by the yellow-maned lion; the yellow-maned lion is then shot by Quatermain.
Key passages
“We never bathed in that pool again; indeed for my part I could never look at its peaceful purity fringed round with waving ferns without thinking of that ghastly head which rolled itself off through the water when we tried to catch it.”
The pool was forever tainted by the memory of Jim-Jim's severed head rolling through the water.
Quatermain reflects on the traumatic event that changed their perception of the pool.
“I registered a quiet little vow on my account that I would let daylight into that lioness before I was forty-eight hours older, if by any means it could be done.”
Quatermain silently swore to kill the lioness within two days if possible.
Quatermain's determination to avenge Jim-Jim.
“The first thing that we did was to strengthen the bush wall of the skerm by dragging a large quantity of the tops of thorn-trees together, and laying them one on the other in such a fashion that the thorns pointed outwards.”
They reinforced their shelter by piling thorn branches with the spikes facing outward.
Preparation for the lioness's return.
“Harry, who as I have said was an eminently practical boy, suggested to Pharaoh that he should go and sit outside the skerm in the moonlight as a sort of bait, assuring him that he would have nothing to fear, as we should certainly kill the lioness before she killed him.”
Harry proposed using Pharaoh as live bait, promising they would shoot the lioness in time.
Harry's reckless but practical suggestion.
“It was a curious sight to see the astonishment of the other lion at this most unprovoked assault.”
The yellow-maned lion was bewildered by the sudden attack from his companion.
The fight between the two male lions.
“Then he licked the dead lion’s eye, and next, with his forefeet resting on the carcass, sent up his own chant of victory, that went rolling and pealing down the dark paths of the night.”
The victorious lion licked the eye of his dead rival and roared in triumph.
The yellow-maned lion's victory display.
