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From a short distance up the trail came the
unmistakable noises of the greedy feeding of a lion。
The crunching of bones； the gulping of great pieces；
the contented growling； all attested the nearness of
the king at table。
Tarzan approached the spot； still keeping to the
branches of the trees。 He made no effort to conceal
his approach； and presently he had evidence that Numa
had heard him； from the ominous； rumbling warning that
broke from a thicket beside the trail。
Halting upon a low branch just above the lion Tarzan
looked down upon the grisly scene。 Could this
unrecognizable thing be the man he had been trailing？
The ape…man wondered。 From time to time he had
descended to the trail and verified his judgment by the
evidence of his scent that the Belgian had followed
this game trail toward the east。
Now he proceeded beyond the lion and his feast；
again descended and examined the ground with his nose。
There was no scent spoor here of the man he had been
trailing。 Tarzan returned to the tree。 With keen eyes
he searched the ground about the mutilated corpse for a
sign of the missing pouch of pretty pebbles； but naught
could he see of it。
He scolded Numa and tried to drive the great beast
away； but only angry growls rewarded his efforts。
He tore small branches from a nearby limb and hurled them
at his ancient enemy。 Numa looked up with bared fangs；
grinning hideously； but he did not rise from his kill。
Then Tarzan fitted an arrow to his bow； and drawing the
slim shaft far back let drive with all the force of the
tough wood that only he could bend。 As the arrow sank
deeply into his side； Numa leaped to his feet with a
roar of mingled rage and pain。 He leaped futilely at
the grinning ape…man； tore at the protruding end of the
shaft； and then； springing into the trail； paced back
and forth beneath his tormentor。 Again Tarzan loosed a
swift bolt。 This time the missile； aimed with care；
lodged in the lion's spine。 The great creature halted
in its tracks； and lurched awkwardly forward upon its
face； paralyzed。
Tarzan dropped to the trail； ran quickly to the beast's
side； and drove his spear deep into the fierce heart；
then after recovering his arrows turned his attention
to the mutilated remains of the animal's prey in the
nearby thicket。
The face was gone。 The Arab garments aroused no doubt
as to the man's identity； since he had trailed him into
the Arab camp and out again； where he might easily have
acquired the apparel。 So sure was Tarzan that the body
was that of he who had robbed him that he made no
effort to verify his deductions by scent among the
conglomerate odors of the great carnivore and the fresh
blood of the victim。
He confined his attentions to a careful search for the
pouch； but nowhere upon or about the corpse was any
sign of the missing article or its contents。 The ape…man
was disappointedpossibly not so much because of
the loss of the colored pebbles as with Numa for
robbing him of the pleasures of revenge。
Wondering what could have become of his possessions；
the ape…man turned slowly back along the trail in the
direction from which he had come。 In his mind he
revolved a plan to enter and search the Arab camp；
after darkness had again fallen。 Taking to the trees；
he moved directly south in search of prey； that he
might satisfy his hunger before midday； and then lie up
for the afternoon in some spot far from the camp； where
he might sleep without fear of discovery until it came
time to prosecute his design。
Scarcely had he quitted the trail when a tall； black
warrior； moving at a dogged trot； passed toward the
east。 It was Mugambi； searching for his mistress。
He continued along the trail； halting to examine the body
of the dead lion。 An expression of puzzlement crossed
his features as he bent to search for the wounds which
had caused the death of the jungle lord。 Tarzan had
removed his arrows； but to Mugambi the proof of death
was as strong as though both the lighter missiles and
the spear still protruded from the carcass。
The black looked furtively about him。 The body was
still warm； and from this fact he reasoned that the
killer was close at hand； yet no sign of living man
appeared。 Mugambi shook his head； and continued along
the trail； but with redoubled caution。
All day he traveled； stopping occasionally to call
aloud the single word； 〃Lady；〃 in the hope that at last
she might hear and respond； but in the end his loyal
devotion brought him to disaster。
From the northeast； for several months； Abdul Mourak；
in command of a detachment of Abyssinian soldiers； had
been assiduously searching for the Arab raider； Achmet
Zek； who； six months previously； had affronted the
majesty of Abdul Mourak's emperor by conducting a slave
raid within the boundaries of Menelek's domain。
And now it happened that Abdul Mourak had halted for a
short rest at noon upon this very day and along the
same trail that Werper and Mugambi were following
toward the east。
It was shortly after the soldiers had dismounted that
the Belgian； unaware of their presence； rode his tired
mount almost into their midst； before he had discovered
them。 Instantly he was surrounded； and a volley of
questions hurled at him； as he was pulled from his
horse and led toward the presence of the commander。
Falling back upon his European nationality； Werper
assured Abdul Mourak that he was a Frenchman； hunting
in Africa； and that he had been attacked by strangers；
his safari killed or scattered； and himself escaping
only by a miracle。
From a chance remark of the Abyssinian； Werper
discovered the purpose of the expedition； and when he
realized that these men were the enemies of Achmet Zek；
he took heart； and immediately blamed his predicament
upon the Arab。
Lest； however； he might again fall into the hands of
the raider； he discouraged Abdul Mourak in the further
prosecution of his pursuit； assuring the Abyssinian
that Achmet Zek commanded a large and dangerous force；
and also that he was marching rapidly toward the south。
Convinced that it would take a long time to overhaul
the raider； and that the chances of engagement made the
outcome extremely questionable； Mourak； none too
unwillingly； abandoned his plan and gave the necessary
orders for his command to pitch camp where they were；
preparatory to taking up the return march toward
Abyssinia the following morning。
It was late in the afternoon that the attention of the
camp was attracted toward the west by the sound of a
powerful voice calling a single word； repeated several
times： 〃Lady！ Lady！ Lady！〃
True to their instincts of precaution； a number of
Abyssinians； acting under orders from Abdul Mourak；
advanced stealthily through the jungle toward the
author of the call。
A half hour later they returned； dragging Mugambi among
them。 The first person the big black's eyes fell upon
as he was hustled into the presence of the Abyssinian
officer； was M。 Jules Frecoult； the Frenchman who had
been the guest of his master and whom he last had seen
entering the village of Achmet Zek under circumstances
which pointed to his familiarity and friendship for the
raiders。
Between the disasters that had befallen his master and
his master's house； and the Frenchman； Mugambi saw a
sinister relationship； which kept him from recalling to
Werper's attention the identity which the latter
evidently failed to recognize。
Pleading that he was but a harmless hunter from a tribe
farther south； Mugambi begged to be allowed to go upon
his way； but Abdul Mourak； admiring the warrior's
splendid physique； decided to take him back to Adis
Abeba and present him to Menelek。 A few moments later
Mugambi and Werper were marched away under guard； and
the Belgian learned for the first time； tha