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jealous of this future meal to permit it to escape with
ease。 And yet； too； there was another possibilitya
chance which hinged entirely upon the unknown temper of
the great beast。
His belly already partially filled； he might watch with
indifference the departure of the girl； yet could she
afford to chance so improbable a contingency？ She
doubted it。 Upon the other hand she was no more minded
to allow this frail opportunity for life to entirely
elude her without taking or attempting to take some
advantage from it。
She watched the lion narrowly。 He could not see her
without turning his head more than halfway around。 She
would attempt a ruse。 Silently she rolled over in the
direction of the nearest tree； and away from the lion；
until she lay again in the same position in which Numa
had left her； but a few feet farther from him。
Here she lay breathless watching the lion； but the
beast gave no indication that he had heard aught to
arouse his suspicions。 Again she rolled over； gaining
a few more feet and again she lay in rigid
contemplation of the beast's back。
During what seemed hours to her tense nerves； Jane
Clayton continued these tactics； and still the lion fed
on in apparent unconsciousness that his second prey was
escaping him。 Already the girl was but a few paces
from the treea moment more and she would be close
enough to chance springing to her feet； throwing
caution aside and making a sudden； bold dash for
safety。 She was halfway over in her turn； her face
away from the lion； when he suddenly turned his great
head and fastened his eyes upon her。 He saw her roll
over upon her side away from him； and then her eyes
were turned again toward him； and the cold sweat broke
from the girl's every pore as she realized that with
life almost within her grasp； death had found her out。
For a long time neither the girl nor the lion moved。
The beast lay motionless； his head turned upon his
shoulders and his glaring eyes fixed upon the rigid
victim； now nearly fifty yards away。 The girl stared
back straight into those cruel orbs； daring not to move
even a muscle。
The strain upon her nerves was becoming so unbearable
that she could scarcely restrain a growing desire to
scream； when Numa deliberately turned back to the
business of feeding； but his back…layed ears attested a
sinister regard for the actions of the girl behind him。
Realizing that she could not again turn without
attracting his immediate and perhaps fatal attention；
Jane Clayton resolved to risk all in one last attempt
to reach the tree and clamber to the lower branches。
Gathering herself stealthily for the effort； she leaped
suddenly to her feet； but almost simultaneously the
lion sprang up； wheeled and with wide…distended jaws
and terrific roars； charged swiftly down upon her。
Those who have spent lifetimes hunting the big game of
Africa will tell you that scarcely any other creature
in the world attains the speed of a charging lion。
For the short distance that the great cat can maintain it；
it resembles nothing more closely than the onrushing of
a giant locomotive under full speed； and so； though the
distance that Jane Clayton must cover was relatively
small； the terrific speed of the lion rendered her
hopes of escape almost negligible。
Yet fear can work wonders； and though the upward spring
of the lion as he neared the tree into which she was
scrambling brought his talons in contact with her boots
she eluded his raking grasp； and as he hurtled against
the bole of her sanctuary； the girl drew herself into
the safety of the branches above his reach。
For some time the lion paced； growling and moaning；
beneath the tree in which Jane Clayton crouched；
panting and trembling。 The girl was a prey to the
nervous reaction from the frightful ordeal through
which she had so recently passed； and in her
overwrought state it seemed that never again should she
dare descend to the ground among the fearsome dangers
which infested the broad stretch of jungle that she
knew must lie between herself and the nearest village
of her faithful Waziri。
It was almost dark before the lion finally quit the
clearing； and even had his place beside the remnants of
the mangled ape not been immediately usurped by a pack
of hyenas； Jane Clayton would scarcely have dared
venture from her refuge in the face of impending night；
and so she composed herself as best she could for the
long and tiresome wait； until daylight might offer some
means of escape from the dread vicinity in which she
had witnessed such terrifying adventures。
Tired nature at last overcame even her fears； and she
dropped into a deep slumber； cradled in a comparatively
safe； though rather uncomfortable； position against the
bole of the tree； and supported by two large branches
which grew outward； almost horizontally； but a few
inches apart。
The sun was high in the heavens when she at last awoke；
and beneath her was no sign either of Numa or the
hyenas。 Only the clean…picked bones of the ape；
scattered about the ground； attested the fact of what
had transpired in this seemingly peaceful spot but a
few hours before。
Both hunger and thirst assailed her now； and realizing
that she must descend or die of starvation； she at last
summoned courage to undertake the ordeal of continuing
her journey through the jungle。
Descending from the tree； she set out in a southerly
direction； toward the point where she believed the
plains of Waziri lay； and though she knew that only
ruin and desolation marked the spot where once her
happy home had stood； she hoped that by coming to the
broad plain she might eventually reach one of the
numerous Waziri villages that were scattered over the
surrounding country； or chance upon a roving band of
these indefatigable huntsmen。
The day was half spent when there broke unexpectedly
upon her startled ears the sound of a rifle shot not
far ahead of her。 As she paused to listen； this first
shot was followed by another and another and another。
What could it mean？ The first explanation which sprung
to her mind attributed the firing to an encounter
between the Arab raiders and a party of Waziri； but as
she did not know upon which side victory might rest； or
whether she were behind friend or foe； she dared not
advance nearer on the chance of revealing herself to an
enemy。
After listening for several minutes she became
convinced that no more than two or three rifles were
engaged in the fight； since nothing approximating the
sound of a volley reached her ears； but still she
hesitated to approach； and at last； determining to take
no chance； she climbed into the concealing foliage of a
tree beside the trail she had been following and there
fearfully awaited whatever might reveal itself。
As the firing became less rapid she caught the sound of
men's voices； though she could distinguish no words；
and at last the reports of the guns ceased； and she
heard two men calling to each other in loud tones。
Then there was a long silence which was finally broken
by the stealthy padding of footfalls on the trail ahead
of her； and in another moment a man appeared in view
backing toward her； a rifle ready in his hands； and his
eyes directed in careful watchfulness along the way
that he had come。
Almost instantly Jane Clayton recognized the man as M。
Jules Frecoult； who so recently had been a guest in her
home。 She was upon the point of calling to him in glad
relief when she saw him leap quickly to one side and
hide himself in the thick verdure at the trail's side。
It was evident that he was being followed by an enemy；
and so Jane Clayton kept silent； lest she distract
Frecoult's attention； or guide his foe to his hiding
place。
Scarcely had Frecoult hidden himself than the figure of
a white…robed Arab crept silentl