"
"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."
With utmost deliberation the two backed toward the bush. Numa
stood for a moment, growling, then he followed them, slowly. Tarzan
wondered if he would come beyond his kill or if he would stop there.
If he followed them beyond, then they could look for a charge, and
if Numa charged it was very likely that he would get one of them.
When the lion reached the carcass of the horse Tarzan stopped and
so did Numa, as Tarzan had thought that he would and the ape-man
waited to see what the lion would do next. He eyed them for a
moment, snarled angrily and then looked down at the tempting meat.
Presently he crouched upon his kill and resumed feeding.
The girl breathed a deep sigh of relief as she and the ape-man
resumed their slow retreat with only an occasional glance from the
lion, and when at last they reached the bush and had turned and
entered it, she felt a sudden giddiness overwhelm her so that she
staggered and would have fallen had Tarzan not caught her.
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