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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
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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；
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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 what could have become of his possessions； the ape…man
turned slowly back along the trail in the direction from which he had come。
In his mind he revolved a plan to enter and search the Arab camp； after
darkness had again fallen。 Taking to the trees； he moved directly south in
search of prey； that he might satisfy his hunger before midday； and then lie
up for the afternoon in some spot far from the camp； where he might sleep
without fear of discovery until it came time to prosecute his design。
Scarcely had he quitted the trail when a tall； black warrior； moving at a
dogged trot； passed toward the east。 It was Mugambi； searching for his
mistress。 He continued along the trail； halting to examine the body of the
dead lion。 An expression of puzzlement crossed his features as he bent to
search for the wounds which had caused the death of the jungle lord。
Tarzan had removed his arrows； but to Mugambi the proof of death was as
strong as though both the lighter missiles and the spear still protruded
from the carcass。
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The black looked furtively about him。 The body was still warm； and
from this fact he reasoned that the killer was close at hand； yet no sign of
living man appeared。 Mugambi shook his head； and continued along the
trail； but with redoubled caution。
All day he traveled； stopping occasionally to call aloud the single word；
〃Lady；〃 in the hope that at last she might hear and respond； but in the end
his loyal devotion brought him to disaster。
From the northeast； for several months； Abdul Mourak； in command of
a detachment of Abyssinian soldiers； had been assiduously searching for