directly across them, and by the tortuous record of its spoor
it might indeed be guessed that it sought these avenues of least
resistance, as well it might, since, unlike its grim stalker, it
walked erect upon two feet--it walked upon two feet and was hairless
except for a black thatch upon its head; its arms were well shaped
and muscular; its hands powerful and slender with long tapering
fingers and thumbs reaching almost to the first joint of the index
fingers. Its legs too were shapely but its feet departed from the
standards of all races of men, except possibly a few of the lowest
races, in that the great toes protruded at right angles from the
foot.

Pausing momentarily in the full light of the gorgeous African moon
the creature turned an attentive ear to the rear and then, his
head lifted, his features might readily have been discerned in the
moonlight. They were strong, clean cut, and regular--features that
would have attracted attention for their masculine beauty in any
of the great capitals of the world. But was this thing a man? It
would have been hard for a watcher in the trees to have decided
as the lion's prey resumed its way across the silver tapestry that
Luna had laid upon the floor of the dismal jungle, for from beneath
the loin cloth of black fur that girdled its thighs there depended
a long hairless, white tail.

In one hand the creature carried a stout club, and suspended at its
left side from a shoulder belt was a short, sheathed knife, while
a cross belt supported a pouch at its right hip. Confining these
straps to the body and also apparently supporting the loin cloth
was a broad girdle which glittered in the moonlight as though
encrusted with virgin gold, and was clasped in the center of the