And for nothing-stealing food. God, but he liked to eat, and there was never enough to eat there. And the heat. And the marching and the drilling. What had ever possessed him to join the Foreign Legion?

Just as Cannon struck his last blow, Wilson came back from the concealment of the jungle where he had been hiding some of the weapons, ammunition, and a few supplies. He had taken to doing that at night, lest the safari take off with their supplies. Now, seeing what Cannon was doing, he was more certain than ever that the safari deserting them was inevitable. The askari and the bearers were silent and sullen, but he could see hate and murder on their faces. He beckoned Cannon to him.

"Lay off those fellas. Cannon," said Wilson, "or we'll wake up some morning with our throats cut. Or at the least, all our supplies gone. Besides, I get the feelin' you like hittin' black hide too much."

"It ain't like that," Cannon said.

"I'm not sure what it's like," Wilson said. "But lay off."

Cannon was about to respond, when his mouth fell open. "Who in the hell is that?"

Wilson turned, amazed at what Tarzan was approaching, followed by Jad-bal-ja. The two looked to be out for an afternoon stroll.

"Look out, man!" cried Wilson.

"A lion! Behind you!" Tarzan continued toward the camp. As Tarzan came near, the lion

walked at his left side, and Tarzan's fingers grasped the black mane. Tarzan and the lion stopped before the four men, who shrank back in fear.

"That your lion?" Wilson asked.

"Yeah," Gromvitch said. "He bite?"

"He's a friend," Tarzan said. "And yes, he bites. I will make this short and direct. I want the safari you stole."

Cannon pushed forward slightly, carefully eyeing the lion. "You what?"

"I am not in the mood for questions," Tarzan said. "In fact, I am an ill-tempered sort. You heard me."

"You can take a flyin' leap, brother," Cannon said. "Just because you come in here in your skivvies with a lion beside you, that don't give you no juice with us. I'll wring your damn neck, shoot the lion, and stick you in him."

"He's right," Wilson said. "You've got two minutes to get out of here. And take your cat with you. You do that, nobody gets hurt."

"And get on some pants," Cannon said. "I can't stand to see no man without pants.