It was but an instant before that Ariel caught sight of the crouching figure and was transfixed with terror.  The moonlight enabled her to identify the person, who was aiming his gun either at her or her companion.

Before she could speak, and at the moment Ashman turned his head, a giant figure was seen to rise as if out of the very earth, directly behind the miscreant.  He held his prodigious javelin poised over his bead.  He was seen to make a sudden onward movement and then the weapon vanished.

Speeding toward the couple with such amazing velocity it was invisible; but, ere the crouching convict could press the trigger of his rifle, he was seen to sprawl forward, his gun flying from his grasp.  The terrible javelin had gone entirely through his body as though it were tissue paper, and pinned him like an impaled insect to the earth!

“The scoundrel!” exclaimed Ashman, who was just too late to anticipate their friend.

“It is Ziffak who has saved us!” gasped Ariel, shrinking against the side of her lover.

The herculean chieftain towered aloft in more imposing proportions than ever as he strode toward the startled couple.  Whether he was advancing to regain his weapon, or whether he meant to join them could not be known; for, before he reached the body of the assassin, he abruptly stopped and looked in the direction of the village.

He had caught an ominous sound:  it was that made by the discharge of firearms!

“Great heaven!” exclaimed Ashman; “they have attacked my friends in Ziffak’s house; I must go to their help; dearest Ariel, what will become of you?” added the distracted lover.

“Leave me alone,” she replied, becoming calm again; “I can return home.”

“Well, then, good-bye!  It may be for the last time,” he impulsively added, catching her, his one arm clasped about her yielding form and drawing her to him.  Then, while she only faintly resisted, he kissed her passionately, as a lover kisses the queen of his heart when he believes he is bidding her farewell forever.

Suddenly, Ashman felt both of the willowy arms about his own neck, and she returned his caresses with a fervor equal to his own.

“Heaven bless and keep you!” he murmured; “I now have everything to live for!  I shall fight hard, for it is not the life of my friends or my own that it is at stake!  It is you!  It is YOU!”

The startled Ziffak had paused but an instant, when he read aright the meaning of the sounds of guns from the village.  The explorers had been attacked by the Murhapas.  King Haffgo must have given the order.  He had violated his pledge for the first time in his life.  Great was his provocation!

The bosom of the giant heaved with indignation.  He stood glaring like a lion at the keepers who are torturing his mate to death, while he is barred within the cage and cannot rush to her help.