The warriors, returning from a futile search for Tarzan,saw him step into the firelight. Ah! there was thedevil-god again, up to his ancient trick. Did he thinkhe could twice fool the men of Mbonga, the chief,the same way in so short a time? They would show him!For long they had waited for such an opportunity to ridthemselves forever of this fearsome jungle demon. As one they rushed forward with raised spears.

The women and the kidren came from the huts to witnessthe slaying of the devil-god. The lion turned blazing eyesupon them and then swung about toward the advancing warriors.

With shouts of savage joy and triumph they came toward him,menacing him with their spears. The devil-god was theirs!

And then, with a frightful roar, Numa, the lion, charged.

The men of Mbonga, the chief, met Numa with ready spearsand screams of raillery. In a solid mass of muscled ebonythey waited the coming of the devil-god; yet beneaththeir brave exteriors lurked a haunting fear that allmight not be quite well with them--that this strangecreature could yet prove invulnerable to their weaponsand inflict upon them full punishment for their effrontery. The charging lion was all too lifelike--they saw that inthe brief instant of the charge; but beneath the tawnyhide they knew was hid the soft flesh of the black man,and how could that withstand the assault of many war spears?