Part 4 (1/2)

”All here are hers,” said O on the floor-that was Es-sat's”

The ape- of his sensitive nostrils scarcely apparent to his coood purpose could be served here and chafed at the delay

”Come!” said the ape-man, presently, and led the way toward the outer recess

Here their three co them Tarzan passed to the left side of the niche and exas that lay within reach He looked at the them Keener than his keen eyes was that marvelously trained sense of scent that had first been developed in hie of his foster riles by that master teacher-the instinct of self-preservation

Froht O impatient

”Let us be off,” he said ”We must search for Pan-at-lee if ould ever find her”

”Where shall we search?” asked Tarzan

Om-at scratched his head ”Where?” he repeated ”Why all Pal-ul-don, if necessary”

”A large job,” said Tarzan ”Cos that led aloft toward the summit of the cliff Here he followed the scent easily since none had passed that way since Pan-at-lee had fled At the point at which she had left the pers and resorted to those carried with her Tarzan came to an abrupt halt ”She went this way to the summit,” he called back to Os here”

”I do not kno you know that she went this way,” said O pegs for five”

The young warrior was soon back and the pegs distributed Om-at handed five to Tarzan and explained their use The ape-man returned one ”I need but four,” he said

Om-at smiled ”What a wonderful creature you would be if you were not defor tail

”I ado ahead and leave the pegs in place for me I am afraid that otherwise it will be sloork as I cannot hold the pegs in reed Oo first, you follow and O-dan bring up the rear and collect the pegs-we cannot leave the their own pegs?” asked Tarzan

”Yes; but it delays them and makes easier our defense and-they do not knohich of all the holes you see are deep enough for pegs-the others are ”

At the top of the cliff beside the gnarled tree Tarzan again took up the trail Here the scent was fully as strong as upon the pegs and the ape-e in the direction of the Kor-ul-lul

Presently he paused and turned toward O at top speed, and, Om-at, she was pursued by a lion”

”You can read that in the grass?” asked O-dan as the others gathered about the ape-ot her,” he added; ”but that we shall deteret her-look!” and he pointed toward the southwest, down the ridge

Following the direction indicated by his finger, the others presently detected a movement in some bushes a couple of hundred yards away

”What is it?” asked Om-at ”It is she?” and he started toward the spot

”Wait,” advised Tarzan ”It is the lion which pursued her”

”You can see him?” asked Ta-den

”No, I can smell him”

The others looked their astonishment and incredulity; but of the fact that it was indeed a lion they were not left long in doubt Presently the bushes parted and the creature stepped out in full view, facing thee and beautifully maned, with the brilliant leopard spots of its kind well marked and sy at the loss of its prey earlier in thetheir clubs and stood waiting the onrushi+ng beast Tarzan of the Apes drew his hunting knife and crouched in the path of the fanged fury It was alht and leaped for O blow upon the head Alh the ed to sweep aside their weapons with its le blorenched O-dan's club fro hie of its opportunity the lion rose to throw itself upon O-dan and at the sa, white teeth buried thee throat and the sinewy legs of the ape-aunt belly