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Chapter 6

Victory was nowhere in sight. Alone, I floated upon the bosom of the Thames. In

that brief instant I believe that I suffered more mental anguish than I have

crowded into all the balance of my life before or since. A few hours before, I had

been wishing that I might be rid of her, and now that she was gone I would have

given my life to have her back again.

Wearily I turned to swim about the spot where she had disappeared, hoping that

she might rise once at least, and I would be given the opportunity to save her,

and, as I turned, the water boiled before my face and her head shot up before me.

I was on the point of striking out to seize her, when a happy smile illumined her

features.

You are not dead!" she cried. "I have been searching the bottom for you. I was

sure that the blow she gave you must have disabled you," and she glanced about

for the lioness.

She has gone?" she asked.

Dead," I replied.

The blow you struck her with the thing you call rifle stunned her," she explained,

and then I swam in close enough to get my knife into her heart."

Ah, such a girl! I could not but wonder what one of our own Pan-American

women would have done under like circumstances. But then, of course, they

have not been trained by stern necessity to cope with the emergencies and

dangers of savage primeval life.

Along the bank we had just quitted, a score of lions paced to and fro, growling

menacingly. We could not return, and we struck out for the opposite shore. I am

a strong swimmer, and had no doubt as to my ability to cross the river, but I was

not so sure about Victory, so I swam close behind her, to be ready to give her

assistance should she need it.

She did not, however, reaching the opposite bank as fresh, apparently, as when

she entered the water. Victory is a wonder. Each day that we were together

brought new proofs of it. Nor was it her courage or vitality only which amazed

me. She had a head on those shapely shoulders of hers, and dignity! My, but

she could be regal when she chose!

She told me that the lions were fewer upon this side of the river, but that there

were many wolves, running in great packs later in the year. Now they were north

The Lost Continent