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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 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