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by attack； or supported by the presence of another of
his kind； Chulk could have braved the presence of a
score of human beings； but aloneah； that was a
different matteralone； and unenraged。
It was some time after Mugambi awoke that he missed the
pouch。 Instantly he was all excitement。 What could
have become of it？ It had been at his side when he lay
down to sleepof that he was certain； for had he not
pushed it from beneath him when its bulging bulk；
pressing against his ribs； caused him discomfort？ Yes；
it had been there when he lay down to sleep。 How then
had it vanished？
Mugambi's savage imagination was filled with visions of
the spirits of departed friends and enemies； for only
to the machinations of such as these could he attribute
the disappearance of his pouch and knob…stick in the
first excitement of the discovery of their loss； but
later and more careful investigation； such as his
woodcraft made possible； revealed indisputable evidence
of a more material explanation than his excited fancy
and superstition had at first led him to accept。
In the trampled turf beside him was the faint impress
of huge； manlike feet。 Mugambi raised his brows as the
truth dawned upon him。 Hastily leaving the boma he
searched in all directions about the enclosure for some
farther sign of the tell…tale spoor。 He climbed trees
and sought for evidence of the direction of the thief's
flight； but the faint signs left by a wary ape who
elects to travel through the trees eluded the woodcraft
of Mugambi。 Tarzan might have followed them； but no
ordinary mortal could perceive them； or perceiving；
translate。
The black； now strengthened and refreshed by his rest；
felt ready to set out again for Waziri； and finding
himself another knob…stick； turned his back upon the
river and plunged into the mazes of the jungle。
As Taglat struggled with the bonds which secured the
ankles and wrists of his captive； the great lion that
eyed the two from behind a nearby clump of bushes
wormed closer to his intended prey。
The ape's back was toward the lion。 He did not see the
broad head； fringed by its rough mane； protruding
through the leafy wall。 He could not know that the
powerful hind paws were gathering close beneath the
tawny belly preparatory to a sudden spring； and his
first intimation of impending danger was the thunderous
and triumphant roar which the charging lion could no
longer suppress。
Scarce pausing for a backward glance； Taglat abandoned
the unconscious woman and fled in the opposite
direction from the horrid sound which had broken in so
unexpected and terrifying a manner upon his startled
ears； but the warning had come too late to save him；
and the lion； in his second bound； alighted full upon
the broad shoulders of the anthropoid。
As the great bull went down there was awakened in him
to the full all the cunning； all the ferocity； all the
physical prowess which obey the mightiest of the
fundamental laws of nature； the law of self…preservation；
and turning upon his back he closed with
the carnivore in a death struggle so fearless and
abandoned； that for a moment the great Numa himself may
have trembled for the outcome。
Seizing the lion by the mane； Taglat buried his
yellowed fangs deep in the monster's throat； growling
hideously through the muffled gag of blood and hair。
Mixed with the ape's voice the lion's roars of rage and
pain reverberated through the jungle； till the lesser
creatures of the wild； startled from their peaceful
pursuits； scurried fearfully away。
Rolling over and over upon the turf the two battled
with demoniac fury； until the colossal cat； by doubling
his hind paws far up beneath his belly sank his talons
deep into Taglat's chest； then； ripping downward with
all his strength； Numa accomplished his design； and the
disemboweled anthropoid； with a last spasmodic
struggle； relaxed in limp and bloody dissolution
beneath his titanic adversary。
Scrambling to his feet； Numa looked about quickly in
all directions； as though seeking to detect the
possible presence of other foes； but only the still and
unconscious form of the girl； lying a few paces from
him met his gaze； and with an angry growl he placed a
forepaw upon the body of his kill and raising his head
gave voice to his savage victory cry。
For another moment he stood with fierce eyes roving to
and fro about the clearing。 At last they halted for a
second time upon the girl。 A low growl rumbled from
the lion's throat。 His lower jaw rose and fell； and
the slaver drooled and dripped upon the dead face of
Taglat。
Like two yellow…green augurs； wide and unblinking； the
terrible eyes remained fixed upon Jane Clayton。 The
erect and majestic pose of the great frame shrank
suddenly into a sinister crouch as； slowly and gently
as one who treads on eggs； the devil…faced cat crept
forward toward the girl。
Beneficent Fate maintained her in happy unconsciousness
of the dread presence sneaking stealthily upon her。
She did not know when the lion paused at her side。
She did not hear the sniffing of his nostrils as he smelled
about her。 She did not feel the heat of the fetid
breath upon her face； nor the dripping of the saliva
from the frightful jaws half opened so close above her。
Finally the lion lifted a forepaw and turned the body
of the girl half over； then he stood again eyeing her
as though still undetermined whether life was extinct
or not。 Some noise or odor from the nearby jungle
attracted his attention for a moment。 His eyes did not
again return to Jane Clayton； and presently he left
her； walked over to the remains of Taglat； and
crouching down upon his kill with his back toward the
girl； proceeded to devour the ape。
It was upon this scene that Jane Clayton at last opened
her eyes。 Inured to danger； she maintained her
self…possession in the face of the startling surprise
which her new…found consciousness revealed to her。 She
neither cried out nor moved a muscle； until she had
taken in every detail of the scene which lay within the
range of her vision。
She saw that the lion had killed the ape； and that he
was devouring his prey less than fifty feet from where
she lay； but what could she do？ Her hands and feet were
bound。 She must wait then； in what patience she could
command； until Numa had eaten and digested the ape；
when； without doubt； he would return to feast upon her；
unless； in the meantime； the dread hyenas should
discover her； or some other of the numerous prowling
carnivora of the jungle。
As she lay tormented by these frightful thoughts； she
suddenly became conscious that the bonds at her wrists
and ankles no longer hurt her； and then of the fact
that her hands were separated； one lying upon either
side of her； instead of both being confined at her back。
Wonderingly she moved a hand。 What miracle had been
performed？ It was not bound！ Stealthily and noiselessly
she moved her other limbs； only to discover that she
was free。 She could not know how the thing had
happened； that Taglat； gnawing upon them for sinister
purposes of his own； had cut them through but an
instant before Numa had frightened him from his victim。
For a moment Jane Clayton was overwhelmed with joy and
thanksgiving； but only for a moment。 What good was her
new…found liberty in the face of the frightful beast
crouching so close beside her？ If she could have had
this chance under different conditions； how happily she
would have taken advantage of it； but now it was given
to her when escape was practically impossible。
The nearest tree was a hundred feet away； the lion less
than fifty。 To rise and attempt to reach the safety of
those tantalizing branches would be but to invite
instant destruction； for Numa would doubtless be too
jealous of this future meal to permit it to esca