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but neither did he lose time in a fruitless search for
Jane Clayton。
His own life depended upon the chance of his eluding；
or outdistancing Achmet Zek； when that worthy should
have discovered that he had escaped。 His original plan
had contemplated connivance in the escape of Lady
Greystoke for two very good and sufficient reasons。
The first was that by saving her he would win the
gratitude of the English； and thus lessen the chance of
his extradition should his identity and his crime
against his superior officer be charged against him。
The second reason was based upon the fact that only one
direction of escape was safely open to him。 He could
not travel to the west because of the Belgian
possessions which lay between him and the Atlantic。
The south was closed to him by the feared presence of
the savage ape…man he had robbed。 To the north lay the
friends and allies of Achmet Zek。 Only toward the
east； through British East Africa； lay reasonable
assurance of freedom。
Accompanied by a titled Englishwoman whom he had
rescued from a frightful fate； and his identity vouched
for by her as that of a Frenchman by the name of
Frecoult； he had looked forward； and not without
reason； to the active assistance of the British from
the moment that he came in contact with their first
outpost。
But now that Lady Greystoke had disappeared； though he
still looked toward the east for hope； his chances were
lessened； and another； subsidiary design completely
dashed。 From the moment that he had first laid eyes
upon Jane Clayton he had nursed within his breast a
secret passion for the beautiful American wife of the
English lord； and when Achmet Zek's discovery of the
jewels had necessitated flight； the Belgian had
dreamed； in his planning； of a future in which he might
convince Lady Greystoke that her husband was dead；
and by playing upon her gratitude win her for himself。
At that part of the village farthest from the gates；
Werper discovered that two or three long poles； taken
from a nearby pile which had been collected for the
construction of huts； had been leaned against the top
of the palisade； forming a precarious； though not
impossible avenue of escape。
Rightly； he inferred that thus had Lady Greystoke found
the means to scale the wall； nor did he lose even a
moment in following her lead。 Once in the jungle he
struck out directly eastward。
A few miles south of him； Jane Clayton lay panting
among the branches of a tree in which she had taken
refuge from a prowling and hungry lioness。
Her escape from the village had been much easier than
she had anticipated。 The knife which she had used to
cut her way through the brush wall of the hut to
freedom she had found sticking in the wall of her
prison； doubtless left there by accident when a former
tenant had vacated the premises。
To cross the rear of the village； keeping always in the
densest shadows； had required but a few moments； and
the fortunate circumstance of the discovery of the hut
poles lying so near the palisade had solved for her the
problem of the passage of the high wall。
For an hour she had followed the old game trail toward
the south； until there fell upon her trained hearing
the stealthy padding of a stalking beast behind her。
The nearest tree gave her instant sanctuary； for she
was too wise in the ways of the jungle to chance her
safety for a moment after discovering that she was
being hunted。
Werper； with better success； traveled slowly onward
until dawn； when； to his chagrin； he discovered a
mounted Arab upon his trail。 It was one of Achmet
Zek's minions； many of whom were scattered in all
directions through the forest； searching for the
fugitive Belgian。
Jane Clayton's escape had not yet been discovered when
Achmet Zek and his searchers set forth to overhaul
Werper。 The only man who had seen the Belgian after his
departure from his tent was the black sentry before the
doorway of Lady Greystoke's prison hut； and he had been
silenced by the discovery of the dead body of the man
who had relieved him； the sentry that Mugambi had
dispatched。
The bribe taker naturally inferred that Werper had
slain his fellow and dared not admit that he had
permitted him to enter the hut； fearing as he did；
the anger of Achmet Zek。 So； as chance directed that he
should be the one to discover the body of the sentry
when the first alarm had been given following Achmet
Zek's discovery that Werper had outwitted him； the
crafty black had dragged the dead body to the interior
of a nearby tent； and himself resumed his station
before the doorway of the hut in which he still
believed the woman to be。
With the discovery of the Arab close behind him； the
Belgian hid in the foliage of a leafy bush。 Here the
trail ran straight for a considerable distance； and
down the shady forest aisle； beneath the overarching
branches of the trees； rode the white…robed figure of
the pursuer。
Nearer and nearer he came。 Werper crouched closer to
the ground behind the leaves of his hiding place。
Across the trail a vine moved。 Werper's eyes instantly
centered upon the spot。 There was no wind to stir the
foliage in the depths of the jungle。 Again the vine
moved。 In the mind of the Belgian only the presence of
a sinister and malevolent force could account for the
phenomenon。
The man's eyes bored steadily into the screen of leaves
upon the opposite side of the trail。 Gradually a form
took shape beyond thema tawny form； grim and
terrible； with yellow…green eyes glaring fearsomely
across the narrow trail straight into his。
Werper could have screamed in fright； but up the trail
was coming the messenger of another death； equally sure
and no less terrible。 He remained silent； almost
paralyzed by fear。 The Arab approached。 Across the
trail from Werper the lion crouched for the spring；
when suddenly his attention was attracted toward the
horseman。
The Belgian saw the massive head turn in the direction
of the raider and his heart all but ceased its beating
as he awaited the result of this interruption。 At a
walk the horseman approached。 Would the nervous animal
he rode take fright at the odor of the carnivore； and；
bolting； leave Werper still to the mercies of the king
of beasts？
But he seemed unmindful of the near presence of the
great cat。 On he came； his neck arched； champing at
the bit between his teeth。 The Belgian turned his eyes
again toward the lion。 The beast's whole attention now
seemed riveted upon the horseman。 They were abreast
the lion now； and still the brute did not spring。
Could he be but waiting for them to pass before
returning his attention to the original prey？ Werper
shuddered and half rose。 At the same instant the lion
sprang from his place of concealment； full upon the
mounted man。 The horse； with a shrill neigh of terror；
shrank sideways almost upon the Belgian； the lion
dragged the helpless Arab from his saddle； and the
horse leaped back into the trail and fled away toward
the west。
But he did not flee alone。 As the frightened beast had
pressed in upon him； Werper had not been slow to note
the quickly emptied saddle and the opportunity it
presented。 Scarcely had the lion dragged the Arab down
from one side； than the Belgian； seizing the pommel of
the saddle and the horse's mane； leaped upon the
horse's back from the other。
A half hour later a naked giant； swinging easily
through the lower branches of the trees； paused； and
with raised head； and dilating nostrils sniffed the
morning air。 The smell of blood fell strong upon his
senses； and mingled with it was the scent of Numa； the
lion。 The giant cocked his head upon one side and
listened。
From a short distance up the trail came the
unmistakable noises of the greedy feeding of a lion。
The crunching of