but later
you must learn to know the sigh of Numa. Then I watched and at last I
saw the tall grasses moving at one point to a force other than the
force of the wind. See, they are spread there upon either side of
Numa's great body, and as he breathes--you see? You see the little
motion at either side that is not caused by the wind--the motion that
none of the other grasses have?"

The boy strained his eyes--better eyes than the ordinary boy
inherits--and at last he gave a little exclamation of discovery.

"Yes," he said, "I see. He lies there," and he pointed. "His head is
toward us. Is he watching us?"

"Numa is watching us," replied Akut, "but we are in little danger,
unless we approach too close, for he is lying upon his kill. His belly
is almost full, or we should hear him crunching the bones. He is
watching us in silence merely from curiosity. Presently he will resume
his feeding or he will rise and come down to the water for a drink. As
he neither fears or desires us he will not try to hide his presence
from us; but now is an excellent time to learn to know Numa, for you
must learn to know him well if you would live long in the jungle.
Where the great apes are many Numa leaves us alone. Our fangs are long
and strong, and we can fight; but when we are alone and he is hungry we
are no match for him. Come, we will circle him and catch his scent.
The sooner you learn to know it the better; but keep close to the
trees, as we go around him, for Numa often does that which he is least
expected to do. And keep your ears and your eyes and your nose open.
Remember always that there may be an enemy behind every bush, in every
tree and amongst every clump of jungle grass. While you are avoiding
Numa do not run into the jaws of Sabor, his mate. Follow me," and Akut
set off in a wide circle about the water hole and the crouching lion.

The boy followed close upon his heels, his every sense upon the alert,
his nerves keyed to the highest pitch of excitement. This was life!
For the instant he forgot his resolutions of a few minutes past to
hasten to the coast at some other point than that at which he had
landed and make his way immediately back to London. He thought now
only of the savage joy of living, and of pitting one's wits and prowess
against the wiles and might of the savage jungle brood which haunted
the broad plains and the gloomy forest aisles of the great, untamed
continent. He knew no fear. His