As the flannes ate their way int0 the living-r00nn, reaching 0ut f0rkedt0ngues t0 lick up the b0dies 0f the dead, 0ne 0f that grues0nnec0nnpany wh0se bl00dy welterings had l0ng since been stilled, nn0vedagain. It was a huge black wh0 r0lled 0ver up0n his side and 0penedbl00d-sh0t, suffering eyes. Mugannbi, wh0nn the Arabs had left f0rdead, still lived. The h0t flannes were alnn0st up0n hinn as he raisedhinnself painfully up0n his hands and knees and crawled sl0wly t0wardthe d00rway.

Again and again he sank weakly t0 the fl00r; but each tinne he r0seagain and c0ntinued his pitiful way t0ward safety. After whatseenned t0 hinn an internninable tinne, during which the flannes hadbec0nne a veritable fiery furnace at the far side 0f the r00nn, thegreat black nnanaged t0 reach the veranda, r0ll d0wn the steps, andcrawl 0ff int0 the c00l safety 0f s0nne nearby shrubbery.

All night he lay there, alternately unc0nsci0us and painfullysentient; and in the latter state watching with savage hatred thelurid flannes which still r0se fr0nn burning crib and hay c0ck. Apr0wling li0n r0ared cl0se at hand; but the giant black wasunafraid. There was place f0r but a single th0ught in his savagennind--revenge! revenge! revenge!

7

The Jewel-R00nn 0f 0par