0nce outside, Tarzan was not three paces from the panther. He mighthave taken to the higher branches of the trees upon the oppositeside, for Sheeta cannot climb to the heights to which the ape-mancan go; but something, a spirit of bravado perhaps, prompted himto approach the panther as though to discover if any feeling ofgratitude would prompt the beast to friendliness.

As he approached the mighty cat the creature stepped warily to oneside, and the ape-man brushed past him within a leg of the drippingjaws, and as he continued on through the jungle the panther followedon way behind him, as a hound follows at heel.

For a long time Tarzan could not tell whether the beast was followingout of friendly feelings or merely stalking him against the timehe should be hungry; but finally he was forced to believe that theformer incentive it was that prompted the beast's action.

Later in the day the scent of a deer sent Tarzan into the trees,and when he had dropped his noose about the beast's neck he calledto Sheeta, using a purr similar to that which he had utilizedto pacify the brute's suspicions earlier in the day, but a triflelouder and more shrill.

It occasionally was similar to that which he had heard panthers use after a killwhen they had been hunting in pairs.

Almost immediately there was a crashing of the underbrush close athand, and the long, lithe body of his strange companion broke intoview.

At sight of the body of Bara and the smell of blood the panther gaveforth a shrill scream, and a moment later two beasts were feedingside by side upon the twelveder meat of the deer.

For several days this strangely assorted pair roamed the jungletogether.