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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs
page 20 of 252 (07%)
his ground and met the lion's charge. He had done the thing before
upon more than one occasion, just as in the past he had charged
lions himself; but tonight he was far from famished and in the
hind quarter he had carried off with him was more raw flesh than he
could eat; yet it was with no equanimity that he looked down upon
Numa rending the flesh of Tarzan's kill. The presumption of this
strange Numa must be punished! And forthwith Tarzan set out to make
life miserable for the big cat. Close by were many trees bearing
large, hard fruits and to one of these the ape-man swung with the
agility of a squirrel. Then commenced a bombardment which brought
forth earthshaking roars from Numa. One after another as rapidly
as he could gather and hurl them, Tarzan pelted the hard fruit down
upon the lion. It was impossible for the tawny cat to eat under
that hail of missiles--he could but roar and growl and dodge and
eventually he was driven away entirely from the carcass of Bara,
the deer. He went roaring and resentful; but in the very center
of the clearing his voice was suddenly hushed and Tarzan saw the
great head lower and flatten out, the body crouch and the long
tail quiver, as the beast slunk cautiously toward the trees upon
the opposite side.

Immediately Tarzan was alert. He lifted his head and sniffed the
slow, jungle breeze. What was it that had attracted Numa's attention
and taken him soft-footed and silent away from the scene of his
discomfiture? Just as the lion disappeared among the trees beyond
the clearing Tarzan caught upon the down-coming wind the explanation
of his new interest--the scent spoor of man was wafted strongly to
the sensitive nostrils. Caching the remainder of the deer's hind
quarter in the crotch of a tree the ape-man wiped his greasy palms
upon his naked thighs and swung off in pursuit of Numa. A broad,
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