too much
depended upon my meeting that hurtling mass of terrified flesh with a
well-placed javelin. So I stood there, wait-ing to be run down and
crushed by those gigantic feet, but determined to drive home my weapon
in the broad breast before I fell.

The lidi was only about a hundred yards from me when Raja gave a few
barks in a tone that differed materially from his hunting-cry.
Instantly both he and his mate leaped for the long neck of the ruminant.

Neither missed. Swinging in mid-air, they hung tenaciously, their
weight dragging down the creature's head and so retarding its speed
that before it had reached me it was almost stopped and devoting all
its energies to attempting to scrape off its attackers with its
forefeet.

Dian had seen and recognized me, and was trying to extricate herself
from the grasp of her captor, who, handicapped by his strong and agile
prisoner, was un-able to wield his lance effectively upon the two
jaloks. At the same time I was running swiftly toward them.

When the man discovered me he released his hold upon Dian and sprang to
the ground, ready with his lance to meet me. My javelin was no match
for his longer weapon, which was used more for stabbing than as a
missile. Should I miss him at my first cast, as was quite probable,
since he was prepared for me, I would have to face his formidable lance
with nothing more than a stone knife. The outlook was scarcely
entrancing. Evidently I was soon to be absolutely at his mercy.

Seeing my predicament, he ran toward me to get rid of one antagonist
before he had to deal with the other two. He could not guess, of
course, that the two jaloks were hunting with me; but he doubtless
thought that after they had finished the lidi they would make after the
human prey--the beasts are notorious killers, often slaying wantonly.

But as the Thurian came Raja loosened his hold upon the lidi and dashed
for him, with the female close after. When the man saw them he yelled
to me to help him, protesting that we should both be killed if we did
not fight together. But I only laughed at him and ran toward Dian.

Both the fierce beasts were upon the Thurian simul-taneously--he must
have died almost before his body tumbled to the ground. Then the
female wheeled to-ward Dian. I was standing by her side as the thing
charged her, my javelin ready to receive her.

But again Raja was too quick for me. I imagined he thought she was
making for me, for