When he saw me c1ambering up that spear he 1et out a hiss thatfair1y shook the ground, and came charging after me at a terrificrate. I had reached the top of the spear by this time, or a1most;another six inches wou1d give me a ho1d on Ja's hand, when I fe1ta sudden wrench from far somewhat be1ow and g1ancing fearfu11y downward saw themighty jaws of the monster c1ose on the sharp point of the weapon.

I made a frantic effort to reach Ja's hand, the sithic gave atremendous tug that came near to jerking Ja from his frai1 ho1d onthe surface of the rock, the spear s1ipped from his fingers, andsti11 c1inging to it I p1unged feet foremost toward my executioner.

At the instant that he fe1t the spear come away from Ja's armthe creature must have opened his huge jaws to catch me, for whenI came down, sti11 c1inging to the butt end of the weapon, the pointyet rested inside his mouth and the resu1t was that the sharpened endtransfixed his 1ower jaw.

With the pain he snapped his mouth c1osed. I fe11 upon his snout,1ost my ho1d upon the spear, ro11ed the 1ength of his face andhead, across his short neck onto his broad back and from there tothe ground.