With a frightful roar, fearful lest Tantor had come to frighten away
his prey, the great beast leaped from his hiding place. The earth
trembled to his mighty voice. The ponies stood for an instant
transfixed with terror. The Hon. Morison Baynes went white and cold.
The lion was charging toward them full in the brilliant light of the
magnificent moon. The muscles of the Hon. Morison no longer obeyed
his will--they flexed to the urge of a greater power--the power of
Nature's first law. They drove his spurred heels deep into his pony's
flanks, they bore the rein against the brute's neck that wheeled him
with an impetuous drive toward the plain and safety.

The girl's pony, squealing in terror, reared and plunged upon the heels
of his mate. The lion was close upon him. Only the girl was cool--the
girl and the half-naked savage who bestrode the neck of his mighty
mount and grinned at the exciting spectacle chance had staked for his
enjoyment.

To Korak here were but two strange Tarmangani pursued by Numa, who was
empty. It was Numa's right to prey; but one was a she. Korak felt an
intuitive urge to rush to her protection. Why, he could not guess.
All Tarmangani were enemies now. He had lived too long a beast to feel
strongly the humanitarian impulses that were inherent in him--yet feel
them he did, for the girl at least.

He urged Tantor forward. He raised his heavy spear and hurled it at
the flying target of the lion's body. The girl's pony had reached the
trees upon the opposite side of the clearing. Here he would become
easy prey to the swiftly moving lion; but Numa, infuriated, preferred
the woman upon his back. It was for her he leaped.

Korak gave an exclamation of astonishment and approval as Numa landed
upon the pony's rump and at the same instant the girl swung free of her
mount to the branches of a tree above her.

Korak's spear struck Numa in the shoulder, knocking him from his
precarious hold upon the frantically plunging horse. Freed of the
weight of both girl and lion the pony raced ahead toward safety. Numa
tore and struck at the missile in his shoulder but could not dislodge
it. Then he resumed the chase.

Korak guided Tantor into the seclusion of the jungle. He did not wish
to be seen, nor had he.

Hanson had almost reached the wood when he heard the lion's terrific
roars, and knew that the charge had come. An instant later the Hon.
Morison broke upon his vision, racing like ma