tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第44章
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she could have had this chance under different conditions； how happily
she would have taken advantage of it； but now it was given to her when
escape was practically impossible。
The nearest tree was a hundred feet away； the lion less than fifty。 To
rise and attempt to reach the safety of those tantalizing branches would be
but to invite instant destruction； for Numa would doubtless be too jealous
of this future meal to permit it to escape with ease。 And yet； too； there
was another possibilitya chance which hinged entirely upon the
unknown temper of the great beast。
His belly already partially filled； he might watch with indifference the
departure of the girl； yet could she afford to chance so improbable a
contingency？ She doubted it。 Upon the other hand she was no more
minded to allow this frail opportunity for life to entirely elude her without
taking or attempting to take some advantage from it。
She watched the lion narrowly。 He could not see her without turning
his head more than halfway around。 She would attempt a ruse。 Silently
she rolled over in the direction of the nearest tree； and away from the lion；
until she lay again in the same position in which Numa had left her； but a
few feet farther from him。
Here she lay breathless watching the lion； but the beast gave no
indication that he had heard aught to arouse his suspicions。 Again she
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rolled over； gaining a few more feet and again she lay in rigid
contemplation of the beast's back。
During what seemed hours to her tense nerves； Jane Clayton continued
these tactics； and still the lion fed on in apparent unconsciousness that his
second prey was escaping him。 Already the girl was but a few paces
from the treea moment more and she would be close enough to chance
springing to her feet； throwing caution aside and making a sudden； bold
dash for safety。 She was halfway over in her turn； her face away from
the lion； when he suddenly turned his great head and fastened his eyes
upon her。 He saw her roll over upon her side away from him； and then
her eyes were turned again toward him； and the cold sweat broke from the
girl's every pore as she realized that with life almost within her grasp；
death had found her out。
For a long time neither the girl nor the lion moved。 The beast lay
motionless； his head turned upon his shoulders and his glaring eyes fixed
upon the rigid victim； now nearly fifty yards away。 The girl stared back
straight into those cruel orbs； daring not to move even a muscle。
The strain upon her nerves was becoming so unbearable that she could
scarcely restrain a growing desire to scream； when Numa deliberately
turned back to the business of feeding； but his back…layed ears attested a
sinister regard for the actions of the girl behind him。
Realizing that she could not again turn without attracting his
immediate and perhaps fatal attention； Jane Clayton resolved to risk all in
one last attempt to reach the tree and clamber to the lower branches。
Gathering herself stealthily for the effort； she leaped suddenly to her
feet； but almost simultaneously the lion sprang up； wheeled and with
wide…distended jaws and terrific roars； charged swiftly down upon her。
Those who have spent lifetimes hunting the big game of Africa will
tell you that scarcely any other creature in the world attains the speed of a
charging lion。 For the short distance that the great cat can maintain it； it
resembles nothing more closely than the onrushing of a giant locomotive
under full speed； and so； though the distance that Jane Clayton must cover
was relatively small； the terrific speed of the lion rendered her hopes of
escape almost negligible。
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Yet fear can work wonders； and though the upward spring of the lion
as he neared the tree into which she was scrambling brought his talons in
contact with her boots she eluded his raking grasp； and as he hurtled
against the bole of her sanctuary； the girl drew herself into the safety of the
branches above his reach。
For some time the lion paced； growling and moaning； beneath the tree
in which Jane Clayton crouched； panting and trembling。 The girl was a
prey to the nervous reaction from the frightful ordeal through which she
had so recently passed； and in her overwrought state it seemed that never
again should she dare descend to the ground among the fearsome dangers
which infested the broad stretch of jungle that she knew must lie between
herself and the nearest village of her faithful Waziri。
It was almost dark before the lion finally quit the clearing； and even
had his place beside the remnants of the mangled ape not been
immediately usurped by a pack of hyenas； Jane Clayton would scarcely
have dared venture from her refuge in the face of impending night； and so
she composed herself as best she could for the long and tiresome wait；
until daylight might offer some means of escape from the dread vicinity in
which she had witnessed such terrifying adventures。
Tired nature at last overcame even her fears； and she dropped into a
deep slumber； cradled in a comparatively safe； though rather
uncomfortable； position against the bole of the tree； and supported by two
large branches which grew outward； almost horizontally； but a few inches
apart。
The sun was high in the heavens when she at last awoke； and beneath
her was no sign either of Numa or the hyenas。 Only the clean…picked
bones of the ape； scattered about the ground； attested the fact of what had
transpired in this seemingly peaceful spot but a few hours before。
Both hunger and thirst assailed her now； and realizing that she must
descend or die of starvation； she at last summoned courage to undertake
the ordeal of continuing her journey through the jungle。
Descending from the tree； she set out in a southerly direction； toward
the point where she believed the plains of Waziri lay； and though she knew
that only ruin and desolation marked the spot where once her happy home
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had stood； she hoped that by coming to the broad plain she might
eventually reach one of the numerous Waziri villages that were scattered
over the surrounding country； or chance upon a roving band of these
indefatigable huntsmen。
The day was half spent when there broke unexpectedly upon her
startled ears the sound of a rifle shot not far ahead of her。 As she paused
to listen； this first shot was followed by another and another and another。
What could it mean？ The first explanation which sprung to her mind
attributed the firing to an encounter between the Arab raiders and a party
of Waziri； but as she did not know upon which side victory might rest； or
whether she were behind friend or foe；
