The kid was tethered to a stake beside the waterhole.
Meriem paused in the branches of a near-by tree and scanned the
surrounding clearing with quick, penetrating eyes. Where was the
hunter? Bwana and his people did not hunt thus. Who could have
tethered this poor little beast as a lure to Numa? Bwana never
countenanced such acts in his country and his word was law among
those who hunted within a radius of many miles of his estate.
Some wandering savages, doubtless, thought Meriem; but where were
they? Not even her keen eyes could discover them. And where
was Numa? Why had he not long since sprung upon this delicious
and defenseless morsel? That he was close by was attested by the
pitiful crying of the kid. Ah! Now she saw him. He was lying
close in a clump of brush a few yards to her right. The kid was
down wind from him and getting the full benefit of his terrorizing
scent, which did not reach Meriem.
To circle to the opposite side of the clearing where the trees
approached closer to the kid. To leap quickly to the little
animal's side and cut the tether that held him would be the work
of but a moment.
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