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Tarzan's retreat was no indication that he felt fear。
Jungle life is ordered along different lines than ours
and different standards prevail。 Had Tarzan been
famished he would； doubtless； have stood his ground and
met the lion's charge。 He had done the thing before
upon more than one occasion； just as in the past he had
charged lions himself； but tonight he was far from
famished and in the hind quarter he had carried off
with him was more raw flesh than he could eat； yet it
was with no equanimity that he looked down upon Numa
rending the flesh of Tarzan's kill。 The presumption of
this strange Numa must be punished！ And forthwith
Tarzan set out to make life miserable for the big cat。
Close by were many trees bearing large； hard fruits and
to one of these the ape…man swung with the agility of a
squirrel。 Then commenced a bombardment which brought
forth earthshaking roars from Numa。 One after another
as rapidly as he could gather and hurl them； Tarzan
pelted the hard fruit down upon the lion。 It was
impossible for the tawny cat to eat under that hail of
missileshe could but roar and growl and dodge and
eventually he was driven away entirely from the carcass
of Bara； the deer。 He went roaring and resentful； but
in the very center of the clearing his voice was
suddenly hushed and Tarzan saw the great head lower and
flatten out； the body crouch and the long tail quiver；
as the beast slunk cautiously toward the trees upon the
opposite side。
Immediately Tarzan was alert。 He lifted his head and
sniffed the slow； jungle breeze。 What was it that had
attracted Numa's attention and taken him soft…footed
and silent away from the scene of his discomfiture？
Just as the lion disappeared among the trees beyond the
clearing Tarzan caught upon the down…coming wind the
explanation of his new interestthe scent spoor of man
was wafted strongly to the sensitive nostrils。 Caching
the remainder of the deer's hind quarter in the crotch
of a tree the ape…man wiped his greasy palms upon his
naked thighs and swung off in pursuit of Numa。 A
broad； well…beaten elephant path led into the forest
from the clearing。 Parallel to this slunk Numa； while
above him Tarzan moved through the trees； the shadow of
a wraith。 The savage cat and the savage man saw Numa's
quarry almost simultaneously； though both had known
before it came within the vision of their eyes that it
was a black man。 Their sensitive nostrils had told
them this much and Tarzan's had told him that the scent
spoor was that of a strangerold and a male； for race
and sex and age each has its own distinctive scent。
It was an old man that made his way alone through the
gloomy jungle； a wrinkled； dried up； little old man
hideously scarred and tattooed and strangely garbed；
with the skin of a hyena about his shoulders and the
dried head mounted upon his grey pate。 Tarzan
recognized the ear…marks of the witch…doctor and
awaited Numa's charge with a feeling of pleasurable
anticipation； for the ape…man had no love for
witch…doctors； but in the instant that Numa did charge；
the white man suddenly recalled that the lion had stolen
his kill a few minutes before and that revenge is
sweet。
The first intimation the black man had that he was in
danger was the crash of twigs as Numa charged through
the bushes into the game trail not twenty yards behind
him。 Then he turned to see a huge； black…maned lion
racing toward him and even as he turned； Numa seized
him。 At the same instant the ape…man dropped from an
overhanging limb full upon the lion's back and as he
alighted he plunged his knife into the tawny side
behind the left shoulder； tangled the fingers of his
right hand in the long mane； buried his teeth in Numa's
neck and wound his powerful legs about the beast's
torso。 With a roar of pain and rage； Numa reared up
and fell backward upon the ape…man； but still the
mighty man…thing clung to his hold and repeatedly the
long knife plunged rapidly into his side。 Over and
over rolled Numa； the lion； clawing and biting at the
air； roaring and growling horribly in savage attempt to
reach the thing upon its back。 More than once was
Tarzan almost brushed from his hold。 He was battered
and bruised and covered with blood from Numa and dirt
from the trail； yet not for an instant did he lessen
the ferocity of his mad attack nor his grim hold upon
the back of his antagonist。 To have loosened for an
instant his grip there； would have been to bring him
within reach of those tearing talons or rending fangs；
and have ended forever the grim career of this jungle…bred
English lord。 Where he had fallen beneath the
spring of the lion the witch…doctor lay； torn and
bleeding； unable to drag himself away and watched the
terrific battle between these two lords of the jungle。
His sunken eyes glittered and his wrinkled lips moved
over toothless gums as he mumbled weird incantations to
the demons of his cult。
For a time he felt no doubt as to the outcomethe
strange white man must certainly succumb to terrible
Simbawhoever heard of a lone man armed only with a
knife slaying so mighty a beast！ Yet presently the old
black man's eyes went wider and he commenced to have
his doubts and misgivings。 What wonderful sort of
creature was this that battled with Simba and held his
own despite the mighty muscles of the king of beasts
and slowly there dawned in those sunken eyes； gleaming
so brightly from the scarred and wrinkled face； the
light of a dawning recollection。 Gropingly backward
into the past reached the fingers of memory； until at
last they seized upon a faint picture； faded and yellow
with the passing years。 It was the picture of a lithe；
white…skinned youth swinging through the trees in
company with a band of huge apes； and the old eyes
blinked and a great fear came into themthe
superstitious fear of one who believes in ghosts and
spirits and demons。
And came the time once more when the witch…doctor no
longer doubted the outcome of the duel； yet his first
judgment was reversed； for now he knew that the jungle
god would slay Simba and the old black was even more
terrified of his own impending fate at the hands of the
victor than he had been by the sure and sudden death
which the triumphant lion would have meted out to him。
He saw the lion weaken from loss of blood。 He saw the
mighty limbs tremble and stagger and at last he saw the
beast sink down to rise no more。 He saw the forest god
or demon rise from the vanquished foe； and placing a
foot upon the still quivering carcass； raise his face
to the moon and bay out a hideous cry that froze the
ebbing blood in the veins of the witch…doctor。
4
Prophecy and Fulfillment
Then Tarzan turned his attention to the man。 He had
not slain Numa to save the Negrohe had merely done it
in revenge upon the lion； but now that he saw the old
man lying helpless