"Yes, and many of these creatures climb trees. I wish you had your weapons."

"If that basto would look the other way for a minute, I'd go down and get them."

"No, you mustn't do that—one or the other of them would get you."

"Here it comes now, Duare! Look!"

"It's a tharban," she whispered.

VII

BULL AGAINST LION

The evil face of the fierce carnivore was protruding from the underbrush a short distance beyond and behind the basto. The latter did not see it, nor did his nostrils catch the scent of the great cat-like creature.

"It's not looking at us," I said; "it's watching the basto."

"Do you suppose—" commenced Duare, and then her words were drowned by the most blood-curdling scream I have ever heard.