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Tarzan recognized Numa as he whom he had muzzled with the hide of Horta, the

boar--as he whom he handled by a rope for two days and finally loosed in a

German front-line trench, and he knew that Numa would recognize him--that he

would remember the sharp spear that had goaded him into submission and

obedience and Tarzan hoped that the lesson he had learned still remained with

the lion.

Now he came forward calling to Numa in the language of the great apes--warning

him away from the girl. It is open to question that Numa, the lion, understood

him; but he did understand the menace of the heavy spear that the Tarmangani

carried so ready in his brown, right hand, and so he drew back, growling, trying

to decide in his little brain whether to charge or flee.

On came the ape-man with never a pause, straight for the lion. "Go away, Numa,"

he cried, "or Tarzan will tie you up again and lead you through the jungle without

food. See Arad, my spear! Do you recall how his point stuck into you and how

with his haft I beat you over the head? Go, Numa! I am Tarzan of the Apes!"

Numa wrinkled the skin of his face into great folds, until his eyes almost

disappeared and he growled and roared and snarled and growled again, and

when the spear point came at last quite close to him he struck at it viciously with

his armed paw; but he drew back. Tarzan stepped over the dead horse and the

girl lying behind him gazed in wide-eyed astonishment at the handsome figure

driving an angry lion deliberately from its kill.

When Numa had retreated a few yards, the ape-man called back to the girl in

perfect German, "Are you badly hurt?"

I think not," she replied; "but I cannot extricate my foot from beneath my horse."

Try again," commanded Tarzan. "I do not know how long I can hold Numa thus."

The girl struggled frantically; but at last she sank back upon an elbow.

It is impossible," she called to him.

He backed slowly until he was again beside the horse, when he reached down and

grasped the cinch, which was still intact. Then with one hand he raised the

carcass from the ground. The girl freed herself and rose to her feet.

You can walk?" asked Tarzan.

Yes," she said; "my leg is numb; but it does not seem to be injured."

Good," commented the ape-man. "Back slowly away behind me--make no sudden

movements. I think he will not charge."

Tarzan the Untamed