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waiting to investigate at the instant； I leaped behind the tree； and； circling
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it； peered around the other side to get a sight of my would…be murderer。
This time I was pitted against menthe spear told me that all too
plainlybut so long as they didn't take me unawares or from behind I had
little fear of them。
Cautiously I edged about the far side of the trees until I could obtain a
view of the spot from which the spear must have come； and when I did I
saw the head of a man just emerging from behind a bush。
The fellow was quite similar in type to those I had seen upon the Isle
of Wight。 He was hairy and unkempt； and as he finally stepped into view
I saw that he was garbed in the same primitive fashion。
He stood for a moment gazing about in search of me； and then he
advanced。 As he did so a number of others； precisely like him； stepped
from the concealing verdure of nearby bushes and followed in his wake。
Keeping the trees between them and me； I ran back a short distance until I
found a clump of underbrush that would effectually conceal me； for I
wished to discover the strength of the party and its armament before
attempting to parley with it。
The useless destruction of any of these poor creatures was the farthest
idea from my mind。 I should have liked to have spoken with them； but I
did not care to risk having to use my high…powered rifle upon them other
than in the last extremity。
Once in my new place of concealment； I watched them as they
approached the tree。 There were about thirty men in the party and one
womana girl whose hands seemed to be bound behind her and who was
being pulled along by two of the men。
They came forward warily； peering cautiously into every bush and
halting often。 At the body of the lion； they paused； and I could see from
their gesticulations and the higher pitch of their voices that they were
much excited over my kill。
But presently they resumed their search for me； and as they advanced I
became suddenly aware of the unnecessary brutality with which the girl's
guards were treating her。 She stumbled once； not far from my place of
concealment； and after the balance of the party had passed me。 As she
did so one of the men at her side jerked her roughly to her feet and struck
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her across the mouth with his fist。
Instantly my blood boiled； and forgetting every consideration of
caution； I leaped from my concealment； and； springing to the man's side；
felled him with a blow。
So unexpected had been my act that it found him and his fellow
unprepared； but instantly the latter drew the knife that protruded from his
belt and lunged viciously at me； at the same time giving voice to a wild
cry of alarm。
The girl shrank back at sight of me； her eyes wide in astonishment； and
then my antagonist was upon me。 I parried his first blow with my
forearm； at the same time delivering a powerful blow to his jaw that sent
him reeling back； but he was at me again in an instant； though in the brief
interim I had time to draw my revolver。
I saw his companion crawling slowly to his feet； and the others of the
party racing down upon me。 There was no time to argue now； other than
with the weapons we wore； and so； as the fellow lunged at me again with
the wicked…looking knife； I covered his heart and pulled the trigger。
Without a sound； he slipped to the earth； and then I turned the weapon
upon the other guard； who was now about to attack me。 He； too；
collapsed； and I was alone with the astonished girl。
The balance of the party was some twenty paces from us； but coming
rapidly。 I seized her arm and drew her after me behind a nearby tree； for
I had seen that with both their comrades down the others were preparing to
launch their spears。
With the girl safe behind the tree； I stepped out in sight of the
advancing foe； shouting to them that I was no enemy； and that they should
halt and listen to me。 But for answer they only yelled in derision and
launched a couple of spears at me； both of which missed。
I saw then that I must fight； yet still I hated to slay them； and it was
only as a final resort that I dropped two of them with my rifle； bringing the
others to a temporary halt。 Again； I appealed to them to desist。 But
they only mistook my solicitude for them for fear； and； with shouts of rage
and derision； leaped forward once again to overwhelm me。
It was now quite evident that I must punish them severely； ormyself
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die and relinquish the girl once more to her captors。 Neither of these
things had I the slightest notion of doing； and so I again stepped from
behind the tree； and； with all the care and deliberation of target practice； I
commenced picking off the foremost of my assailants。
One by one the wild men dropped； yet on came the others； fierce and
vengeful； until； only a few remaining； these seemed to realize the futility
of combating my modern weapon with their primitive spears； and； still
howling wrathfully； withdrew toward the west。
Now； for the first time； I had an opportunity to turn my attention
toward the girl； who had stood； silent and motionless； behind me as I
pumped death into my enemies and hers from my automatic rifle。
She was of medium height； well formed； and with fine； clear… cut
features。 Her forehead was high； and her eyes both intelligent and
beautiful。 Exposure to the sun had browned a smooth and velvety skin to
a shade which seemed to enhance rather than mar an altogether lovely
picture of youthful femininity。
A trace of apprehension marked her expressionI cannot call it fear
since I have learned to know herand astonishment was still apparent in
her eyes。 She stood quite erect； her hands still bound behind her； and met
my gaze with level； proud return。
〃What language do you speak？〃 I asked。 〃Do you understand