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body and padded feet scaling the outer wall behind the
hut and then a tearing at the poles which formed the wall。
Presently through the hole thus made slunk a great beast；
pressing its cold muzzle close to his neck。
It was Sheeta； the panther。
The beast snuffed round the prostrate man； whining a little。
There was a limit to the interchange of ideas which could
take place between these two； and so Tarzan could not be
sure that Sheeta understood all that he attempted to
communicate to him。 That the man was tied and helpless Sheeta
could； of course； see； but that to the mind of the panther this
would carry any suggestion of harm in so far as his master
was concerned； Tarzan could not guess。
What had brought the beast to him？ The fact that he had
come augured well for what he might accomplish； but when
Tarzan tried to get Sheeta to gnaw his bonds asunder the great
animal could not seem to understand what was expected of him；
and； instead； but licked the wrists and arms of the prisoner。
Presently there came an interruption。 Some one was
approaching the hut。 Sheeta gave a low growl and slunk into
the blackness of a far corner。 Evidently the visitor did not
hear the warning sound； for almost immediately he entered
the huta tall； naked； savage warrior。
He came to Tarzan's side and pricked him with a spear。
From the lips of the ape…man came a weird； uncanny sound；
and in answer to it there leaped from the blackness of the
hut's farthermost corner a bolt of fur…clad death。 Full upon
the breast of the painted savage the great beast struck；
burying sharp talons in the black flesh and sinking
great yellow fangs in the ebon throat。
There was a fearful scream of anguish and terror from the black；
and mingled with it was the hideous challenge of the killing panther。
Then came silencesilence except for the rending of bloody flesh
and the crunching of human bones between mighty jaws。
The noise had brought sudden quiet to the village without。
Then there came the sound of voices in consultation。
High…pitched； fear…filled voices； and deep； low tones of
authority； as the chief spoke。 Tarzan and the panther heard
the approaching footsteps of many men； and then； to Tarzan's
surprise； the great cat rose from across the body of its kill；
and slunk noiselessly from the hut through the aperture
through which it had entered。
The man heard the soft scraping of the body as it passed
over the top of the palisade； and then silence。 From the
opposite side of the hut he heard the savages approaching
to investigate。
He had little hope that Sheeta would return； for had the great
cat intended to defend him against all comers it would have
remained by his side as it heard the approaching savages without。
Tarzan knew how strange were the workings of the brains
of the mighty carnivora of the junglehow fiendishly fearless
they might be in the face of certain death； and again how timid
upon the slightest provocation。 There was doubt in his mind
that some note of the approaching blacks vibrating with fear
had struck an answering chord in the nervous system of the panther；
sending him slinking through the jungle； his tail between his legs。
The man shrugged。 Well； what of it？ He had expected
to die； and； after all； what might Sheeta have done for him
other than to maul a couple of his enemies before a rifle in
the hands of one of the whites should have dispatched him！
If the cat could have released him！ Ah！ that would have
resulted in a very different story； but it had proved beyond
the understanding of Sheeta； and now the beast was gone
and Tarzan must definitely abandon hope。
The natives were at the entrance to the hut now； peering
fearfully into the dark interior。 Two in advance held lighted
torches in their left hands and ready spears in their right。
They held back timorously against those behind； who were
pushing them forward。
The shrieks of the panther's victim； mingled with those of
the great cat； had wrought mightily upon their poor nerves；
and now the awful silence of the dark interior seemed even
more terribly ominous than had the frightful screaming。
Presently one of those who was being forced unwillingly
within hit upon a happy scheme for learning first the precise
nature of the danger which menaced him from the silent interior。
With a quick movement he flung his lighted torch into the
centre of the hut。 Instantly all within was illuminated
for a brief second before the burning brand was dashed out
against the earth floor。
There was the figure of the white prisoner still securely
bound as they had last seen him； and in the centre of the hut
another figure equally as motionless； its throat and breasts
horribly torn and mangled。
The sight that met the eyes of the foremost savages
inspired more terror within their superstitious breasts
than would the presence of Sheeta； for they saw only the
result of a ferocious attack upon one of their fellows。
Not seeing the cause； their fear…ridden minds were free to
attribute the ghastly work to supernatural causes； and with
the thought they turned； screaming； from the hut； bowling
over those who stood directly behind them in the exuberance
of their terror。
For an hour Tarzan heard only the murmur of excited voices
from the far end of the village。 Evidently the savages
were once more attempting to work up their flickering courage
to a point that would permit them to make another invasion
of the hut； for now and then came a savage yell； such
as the warriors give to bolster up their bravery upon the
field of battle。
But in the end it was two of the whites who first entered；
carrying torches and guns。 Tarzan was not surprised to
discover that neither of them was Rokoff。 He would have
wagered his soul that no power on earth could have tempted
that great coward to face the unknown menace of the hut。
When the natives saw that the white men were not attacked
they； too； crowded into the interior； their voices hushed with
terror as they looked upon the mutilated corpse of their comrade。
The whites tried in vain to elicit an explanation from
Tarzan； but to all their queries he but shook his head； a grim
and knowing smile curving his lips。
At last Rokoff came。
His face grew very white as his eyes rested upon the bloody
thing grinning up at him from the floor； the face set in a
death mask of excruciating horror。
〃Come！〃 he said to the chief。 〃Let us get to work and
finish this demon before he has an opportunity to repeat this
thing upon more of your people。〃
The chief gave orders that Tarzan should be lifted and
carried to the stake； but it was several minutes before he
could prevail upon any of his men to touch the prisoner。
At last； however； four of the younger warriors dragged
Tarzan roughly from the hut； and once outside the pall of
te