flying knot, he brought the the corner-post down on the mass, and three
warriors were levelled with the ground. Then, hurling the mighty club
away as if it were a mere hindrance to him, he ran straight at the
leader of the Raturans, who, being head and shoulders above his fellows,
seemed a suitable foe to single out.

Before reaching him, however, his attention was arrested by a cry from
some one in the midst of the enemy in front. It was the voice of
Wapoota, who was trying to break his way through the flying foe to his
own people.

Fortunately Zeppa recognised the voice, and darted towards his friend,
who was hard pressed at the time by a crowd of opponents.

One roar from the maniac sent these flying like chaff before the wind.
It must be added, however, for the credit of the men of Ratura, that
Ongoloo and his warriors had backed up their new leader gallantly.

When Wapoota saw his deliverer, he ran to him, panting, and said--

"Come with me--this way--Lippy is here!"

That was sufficient. Zeppa became submissive like a child, while the
jester, taking him by the hand, ran with him at racing speed in the
direction of the Raturan villages, towards which the child and her
mother were being led by the party which had captured them.

This was briefly explained to Zeppa by Wapoota, who had chanced to
encounter the party when returning from his yelling mission, if we may
so express it.

The race was a long one, but neither the madman nor his friend flagged
until they overtook the party. It consisted of about thirty warriors,
but if it had been thirty hundred it would have made no difference in
the effect of Zeppa's roar and aspect as he rushed upon them with
obviously awful intentions, though without arms. In fact the latter
circumstance tended rather to increase the fears of the superstitious
natives. They fled as one man at the first sight of the maniac and
Lippy was recovered!

Instantly Zeppa's ferocity vanished, and the tenderest of smiles rippled
over his face as he took the child in his arms and kissed her.

But Wapoota did not feel quite so easy, for in their mad race they had
outstripped the flying enemy, bands of whom were constantly passing them
in their flight before the Mountain-men. His anxieties, however, were
groundless, for no sooner did any of the Raturans set eyes on Zeppa,
than, with howls of consternation, they diverged at a tangent like
hunted hares, and coursed away homeward on th