upon the prey they
sought thus to trap. Again the kid struggled to be free. Again his
piteous wail touched the tender heart strings of the girl. Tossing
discretion aside, she commenced to circle the clearing. Only from Numa
did she attempt to conceal her presence. At last she reached the
opposite trees. An instant she paused to look toward the great lion,
and at the same moment she saw the huge beast rise slowly to his full
height. A low roar betokened that he was ready.

Meriem loosened her knife and leaped to the ground. A quick run
brought her to the side of the kid. Numa saw her. He lashed his tail
against his tawny sides. He roared terribly; but, for an instant, he
remained where he stood--surprised into inaction, doubtless, by the
strange apparition that had sprung so unexpectedly from the jungle.

Other eyes were upon Meriem, too--eyes in which were no less surprise
than that reflected in the yellow-green orbs of the carnivore. A white
man, hiding in a thorn boma, half rose as the young girl leaped into
the clearing and dashed toward the kid. He saw Numa hesitate. He
raised his rifle and covered the beast's breast. The girl reached the
kid's side. Her knife flashed, and the little prisoner was free. With
a parting bleat it dashed off into the jungle. Then the girl turned to
retreat toward the safety of the tree from which she had dropped so
suddenly and unexpectedly into the surprised view of the lion, the kid
and the man.

As she turned the girl's face was turned toward the hunter. His eyes
went wide as he saw her features. He gave a little gasp of surprise;
but now the lion demanded all his attention--the baffled, angry beast
was charging. His breast was still covered by the motionless rifle.
The man could have fired and stopped the charge at once; but for some
reason, since he had seen the girl's face, he hesitated. Could it be
that he did not care to save her? Or, did he prefer, if possible, to
remain unseen by her? It must have been the latter cause which kept
the trigger finger of the steady hand from exerting the little pressure
that would have brought the great beast to at least a temporary pause.

Like an eagle the man watched the race for life the girl was making. A
second or two measured the time which the whole exciting event consumed
from the moment that the lion broke into his charge. Nor once did the
rifle sights fail to cover the broad breast of the tawny sire as the