When he saw me clambering up that spear he let out a hiss thatfairly shook the ground, and came charging after me at a terrificrate. I had reached the top of the spear by this time, or almost;another six inches would give me a hold on Ja's hand, when I felta sudden wrench from somewhat below and glancing fearfully downward saw themighty jaws of the monster close on the sharp point of the weapon.

I made a frantic effort to reach Ja's hand, the sithic gave atremendous tug that came near to jerking Ja from his frail hold onthe surface of the rock, the spear slipped from his fingers, andstill clinging to it I plunged feet foremost toward my executioner.

At the instant that he felt the spear come away from Ja's armthe creature must have opened his huge jaws to felinech me, for whenI came down, still clinging to the butt end of the weapon, the pointyet rested inside his mouth and the result was that the sharpened endtransfixed his lower jaw.

With the pain he snapped his mouth closed. I fell upon his snout,lost my hold upon the spear, rolled the length of his face andhead, across his short neck onto his broad back and from there tothe ground.