here was a dull thud of
impact as it struck the tree, and as I dodged to one side and turned to
look at the thing I saw a heavy spear imbedded in the wood not three
inches from where my head had been.

The thing had come from a little to one side of me, and, without
waiting to investigate at the instant, I leaped behind the tree, and,
circling it, peered around the other side to get a sight of my would-be
murderer.

This time I was pitted against men--the spear told me that all too
plainly--but so long as they didn't take me unawares or from behind I
had little fear of them.

Cautiously I edged about the far side of the trees until I could obtain
a view of the spot from which the spear must have come, and when I did
I saw the head of a man just emerging from behind a bush.

The fellow was quite similar in type to those I had seen upon the Isle
of Wight. He was hairy and unkempt, and as he finally stepped into
view I saw that he was garbed in the same primitive fashion.

He stood for a moment gazing about in search of me, and then he
advanced. As he did so a number of others, precisely like him, stepped
from the concealing verdure of nearby bushes and followed in his wake.
Keeping the trees between them and me, I ran back a short distance
until I found a clump of underbrush that would effectually conceal me,
for I wished to discover the strength of the party and its armament
before attempting to parley with it.

The useless destruction of any of these poor creatures was the farthest
idea from my mind. I should have liked to have spoken with them, but I
did not care to risk having to use my high-powered rifle upon them
other than in the last extremity.

Once in my new place of concealment, I watched them as they approached
the tree. There were about thirty men in the party and one woman--a
girl whose hands seemed to be bound behind her and who was being pulled
along by two of the men.

They came forward warily, peering cautiously into every bush and
halting often. At the body of the lion, they paused, and I could see
from their gesticulations and the higher pitch of their voices that
they were much excited over my kill.

But presently they resumed their search for me, and as they advanced I
became suddenly aware of the unnecessary brutality with which the
girl's guards were treating her. She stumbled once, not far from my
place of concealment, and after the balance of the party had passed me.
As she did