He would face a dozen rifles, if necessary, to fill his
empty belly. He circled about into the forest that he might again
be down wind from his victims, for should they get his scent he
could not hope to overtake them. Numa was famished; but he was
old and crafty.
Deep in the jungle another caught faintly the scent of man and of
Numa both. He raised his head and sniffed. He cocked it upon one
side and listened.
"Come on," said Meriem, "let's ride in a way--the forest is wonderful
at night. It is open enough to permit us to ride."
The Hon. Morison hesitated. He shrank from revealing his fear in
the presence of the girl. A braver man, sure of his own position,
would have had the courage to have refused uselessly to expose the
girl to danger. He would not have thought of himself at all; but
the egotism of the Hon. Morison required that he think always of
self first. He had planned the ride to get Meriem away from the
bungalow. He wanted to talk to her alone and far enough away so
should she take offense at his purposed suggestion he would have
time in which to attempt to right himself in her eyes before they
reached home.
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