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realized that resistance was futile； and came slowly
down to stand upon the ground before this new captor
and plead her cause in the name of justice and humanity。
Angered by recent defeat； and by the loss of the gold；
the jewels； and his prisoners； Abdul Mourak was in no
mood to be influenced by any appeal to those softer
sentiments to which； as a matter of fact； he was almost
a stranger even under the most favourable conditions。
He looked for degradation and possible death in
punishment for his failures and his misfortunes when he
should have returned to his native land and made his
report to Menelek； but an acceptable gift might temper
the wrath of the emperor； and surely this fair flower
of another race should be gratefully received by the
black ruler！
When Jane Clayton had concluded her appeal； Abdul
Mourak replied briefly that he would promise her
protection； but that he must take her to his emperor。
The girl did not need ask him why； and once again hope
died within her breast。 Resignedly she permitted
herself to be lifted to a seat behind one of the
troopers； and again； under new masters； her journey was
resumed toward what she now began to believe was her
inevitable fate。
Abdul Mourak； bereft of his guides by the battle he had
waged against the raiders； and himself unfamiliar with
the country； had wandered far from the trail he should
have followed； and as a result had made but little
progress toward the north since the beginning of his
flight。 Today he was beating toward the west in the
hope of coming upon a village where he might obtain
guides； but night found him still as far from a
realization of his hopes as had the rising sun。
It was a dispirited company which went into camp；
waterless and hungry； in the dense jungle。 Attracted
by the horses； lions roared about the boma； and to
their hideous din was added the shrill neighs of the
terror…stricken beasts they hunted。 There was little
sleep for man or beast； and the sentries were doubled
that there might be enough on duty both to guard
against the sudden charge of an overbold； or overhungry
lion； and to keep the fire blazing which was an even
more effectual barrier against them than the thorny boma。
It was well past midnight； and as yet Jane Clayton；
notwithstanding that she had passed a sleepless night
the night before； had scarcely more than dozed。 A
sense of impending danger seemed to hang like a black
pall over the camp。 The veteran troopers of the black
emperor were nervous and ill at ease。 Abdul Mourak
left his blankets a dozen times to pace restlessly back
and forth between the tethered horses and the crackling
fire。 The girl could see his great frame silhouetted
against the lurid glare of the flames； and she guessed
from the quick； nervous movements of the man that he
was afraid。
The roaring of the lions rose in sudden fury until the
earth trembled to the hideous chorus。 The horses
shrilled their neighs of terror as they lay back upon
their halter ropes in their mad endeavors to break
loose。 A trooper； braver than his fellows； leaped
among the kicking； plunging； fear…maddened beasts in a
futile attempt to quiet them。 A lion； large； and
fierce； and courageous； leaped almost to the boma； full
in the bright light from the fire。 A sentry raised his
piece and fired； and the little leaden pellet
unstoppered the vials of hell upon the terror…stricken
camp。
The shot ploughed a deep and painful furrow in the
lion's side； arousing all the bestial fury of the
little brain； but abating not a whit the power and
vigor of the great body。
Unwounded； the boma and the flames might have turned
him back； but now the pain and the rage wiped caution
from his mind； and with a loud； and angry roar he
topped the barrier with an easy leap and was among the
horses。
What had been pandemonium before became now an
indescribable tumult of hideous sound。 The stricken
horse upon which the lion leaped shrieked out its
terror and its agony。 Several about it broke their
tethers and plunged madly about the camp。 Men leaped
from their blankets and with guns ready ran toward the
picket line； and then from the jungle beyond the boma a
dozen lions； emboldened by the example of their fellow
charged fearlessly upon the camp。
Singly and in twos and threes they leaped the boma；
until the little enclosure was filled with cursing men
and screaming horses battling for their lives with the
green…eyed devils of the jungle。
With the charge of the first lion； Jane Clayton had
scrambled to her feet； and now she stood horror…struck
at the scene of savage slaughter that swirled and
eddied about her。 Once a bolting horse knocked her
down； and a moment later a lion； leaping in pursuit of
another terror…stricken animal； brushed her so closely
that she was again thrown from her feet。
Amidst the cracking of the rifles and the growls of the
carnivora rose the death screams of stricken men and
horses as they were dragged down by the blood…mad cats。
The leaping carnivora and the plunging horses；
prevented any concerted action by the Abyssiniansit
was every man for himselfand in the melee； the
defenseless woman was either forgotten or ignored by
her black captors。 A score of times was her life
menaced by charging lions； by plunging horses； or by
the wildly fired bullets of the frightened troopers；
yet there was no chance of escape； for now with the
fiendish cunning of their kind； the tawny hunters
commenced to circle about their prey； hemming them
within a ring of mighty； yellow fangs； and sharp； long
talons。 Again and again an individual lion would dash
suddenly among the frightened men and horses； and
occasionally a horse； goaded to frenzy by pain or
terror； succeeded in racing safely through the circling
lions； leaping the boma； and escaping into the jungle；
but for the men and the woman no such escape was
possible。
A horse； struck by a stray bullet； fell beside Jane
Clayton； a lion leaped across the expiring beast full
upon the breast of a black trooper just beyond。 The
man clubbed his rifle and struck futilely at the broad
head； and then he was down and the carnivore was
standing above him。
Shrieking out his terror； the soldier clawed with puny
fingers at the shaggy breast in vain endeavor to push
away the grinning jaws。 The lion lowered his head； the
gaping fangs closed with a single sickening crunch upon
the fear…distorted face； and turning strode back across
the body of the dead horse dragging his limp and bloody
burden with him。
Wide…eyed the girl stood watching。 She saw the
carnivore step upon the corpse； stumblingly； as the
grisly thing swung between its forepaws； and her eyes
remained fixed in fascination while the beast passed
within a few paces of her。
The interference of the body seemed to enrage the lion。
He shook the inanimate clay venomously。 He growled and
roared hideously at the dead； insensate thing； and then
he dropped it and raised his head to look about in
search of some living victim upon which to wreak his
ill temper。 His yellow eyes fastened themselves
balefully upon the figure of the girl； the bristling
lips raised； disclosing the grinning fangs。 A terrific
roar broke from the savage throat； and the great beast
crouched to spring upon this new and helpless victim。
Quiet had fallen early upon the camp where Tarzan and
Werper lay securely bound。 Two nervous sentries paced
their beats； their eyes rolling often toward the
impenetrable shadows of the gloomy jungle。 The others
slept or tried to sleepall but the ape…man。 Silently
and powerfully he strained at the bonds which fettered
his wrists。
The muscles knotted beneath the smooth； brown skin of
his arms and shoulders； the veins stood out upon his
temples from the force of his exertionsa strand
pa