intently, but when von Horn urged the necessity for
dispatching certain "terrible, soulless creatures" an
expression of intermingled fear and hatred convulsed
the hideous features, and like a great grizzly it
turned and lumbered awkwardly across the campong toward
the easterly, or back wall of the enclosure.

Here it leaped futilely a half dozen times for the top
of the palisade, and then trembling and chattering in
rage it ran back and forth along the base of the
obstacle, just as a wild beast in captivity paces
angrily before the bars of its cage.

Finally it paused to look once more at the senseless
wood that barred its escape, as though measuring the
distance to the top. Then the eyes roamed about the
campong to rest at last upon the slanting roof of the
thatched shed which was its shelter. Presently a slow
idea was born in the poor, malformed brain.

The creature approached the shed. He could just reach
the saplings that formed the frame work of the roof.
Like a huge sloth he drew himself to the roof of the
structure. From here he could see beyond the palisade,
and the wild freedom of the jungle called to him. He
did not know what it was but in its leafy wall he
perceived many breaks and openings that offered
concealment from the creatures who were plotting to
take his life.