ames. In that brief instant I believe that I suffered more mental
anguish than I have crowded into all the balance of my life before or
since. A few hours before, I had been wishing that I might be rid of
her, and now that she was gone I would have given my life to have her
back again.

Wearily I turned to swim about the spot where she had disappeared,
hoping that she might rise once at least, and I would be given the
opportunity to save her, and, as I turned, the water boiled before my
face and her head shot up before me. I was on the point of striking
out to seize her, when a happy smile illumined her features.

"You are not dead!" she cried. "I have been searching the bottom for
you. I was sure that the blow she gave you must have disabled you,"
and she glanced about for the lioness.

"She has gone?" she asked.

"Dead," I replied.

"The blow you struck her with the thing you call rifle stunned her,"
she explained, "and then I swam in close enough to get my knife into
her heart."

Ah, such a girl! I could not but wonder what one of our own
Pan-American women would have done under like circumstances. But then,
of course, they have not been trained by stern necessity to cope with
the emergencies and dangers of savage primeval life.

Along the bank we had just quitted, a score of lions paced to and fro,
growling menacingly. We could not return, and we struck out for the
opposite shore. I am a strong swimmer, and had no doubt as to my
ability to cross the river, but I was not so sure about Victory, so I
swam close behind her, to be ready to give her assistance should she
need it.

She did not, however, reaching the opposite bank as fresh, apparently,
as when she entered the water. Victory is a wonder. Each day that we
were together brought new proofs of it. Nor was it her courage or
vitality only which amazed me. She had a head on those shapely
shoulders of hers, and dignity! My, but she could be regal when she
chose!

She told me that the lions were fewer upon this side of the river, but
that there were many wolves, running in great packs later in the year.
Now they were north somewhere, and we should have little to fear from
them, though we might meet with a few.

My first concern was to take my weapons apart and dry them, which was
rather difficult in the face of the fact that every rag about me was
drenched. But finally, thanks to the sun and much rubbing, I
succeeded, though I had no oil