Part 39 (2/2)

Suddenly the tail stiffened and shot erect; and voicing an ear-shattering roar, Sadu sprang at the man in his path

Sadu, the lion, had felt s and murderous talons before this He expected no more resistance from this one than had come from those others

It was an astonished beast, therefore, that crashed to the sand where the ility Tharn evaded that lightning charge; then, so quickly that human eyes were hard put to follow, he leaped in and drove his heavy knife deep behind Sadu's left shoulder

The jungle king, snarling hideously from unexpected pain and shock, wheeled and struck in one sireat cat turned, vaulted co knife still clutched in his hand Before Sadu could reverse hi at the base of the tawny neck where lay the great spine

The flint bit deep but missed a vital spot by half an inch Sadu had moved in a rapid sideward , and while the wound that resulted was painful, it was by no nard his only weapon Sadu's sudden shi+ft had torn the knife fro the blade sunk deep, haft still standing upright like athe white sands, Sadu whirled about, sending a shower of the fine particles high into the air Once more he hurled hied aside But this ti sand One flailing paw struck his chest a glancing blow, the claws raking long scratches there, and Tharn was catapulted heels over head a full fifteen feet across the arena

A little murmur of protest came from the ranks of spectators They had witnessed what had prole develop into a battle between giants, with its ultih a quirk of fate, the grim battle was ended; the favorite they had acclaimed was doomed

Sadu leaped forward to make his kill

Tharn, helpless, knew life had run its course Nothing could save him now

And then fickle fate shi+fted once round in a last futile effort to throw himself to one side, closed purely by chance about a hard object which he instantly identified as the hilt of a stone knife, dropped there, doubtless, by sonition and action caether Tharn raised the weapon, hilt between thu position, flung it with all the concentrated strength of his powerful ar bulk

As in a dreaht to ht eye sank its entire length; then a crushi+ng weight came down on Tharn's chest and he knew no ; for his eyes opened in tiuards were standing over his own supine figure, evidently seeking to learn the extent of his injuries

”He lives!” ejaculated one in surprise, as Tharn's eyes fluttered open

In answer the cave ot unsteadily to his feet, and while the effort sent a spas ribs, his face betrayed nothing of his suffering

Leisurely he brushed sand fros, then turned and walked toward the western gate Heedless to the thunder of acclaih the arms-rooh of his adventure to dull the prisoners' curiosity, then edged away to join Katon

Thus the day wore on Now and then guards would enter, pick out a man or two and depart Once, Brutan came back from the arena with his left cheek laid open from an aniardisainst nearly impossible odds

Later in that afternoon, Katon had been sue to Tharn But return he did, unscathed, a broad s up his face as the cave lord came forward to welcome him

A bond of friendshi+p, based on mutual respect and admiration, had for days but served to aug known only betweenof himself

Just before the day's end, Brosan went out, a quip on his lips and a careless wave of his hand to the others That joking reesture remained with every man in the cell, for Brosan never came back

Darkness ca of beasts and shrieks and ht and the weary gladiators ate and drank, doing their best to forget tiredness and strain