Scrambling to his feet, Numa looked about quickly in all directions,
as though seeking to detect the possible presence of other foes;
but only the still and unconscious form of the girl, lying a few
paces from him met his gaze, and with an angry growl he placed a
forepaw upon the body of his kill and raising his head gave voice
to his savage victory cry.

For another moment he stood with fierce eyes roving to and fro
about the clearing. At last they halted for a second time upon
the girl. A low growl rumbled from the lion's throat. His lower
jaw rose and fell, and the slaver drooled and dripped upon the dead
face of Taglat.

Like two yellow-green augurs, wide and unblinking, the terrible eyes
remained fixed upon Jane Clayton. The erect and majestic pose of
the great frame shrank suddenly into a sinister crouch as, slowly
and gently as one who treads on eggs, the devil-faced cat crept
forward toward the girl.

Beneficent Fate maintained her in happy unconsciousness of the dread
presence sneaking stealthily upon her. She did not know when the
lion paused at her side. She did not hear the sniffing of his
nostrils as he smelled about her. She did not feel the heat of
the fetid breath upon her face, nor the dripping of the saliva from
the frightful jaws half opened so close above her.

Finally the lion lifted a forepaw and turned the body of the girl half
over, then he stood again eyeing her as though still undetermined
whether life was extinct or not. Some noise or odor from the