n
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 sleep--all but the ape-man. Silently and
powerfully he strained at the bonds which fettered his wrists.

The