midday
The ape-man was disappointed -- possibly not so much because of the loss of the colored pebbles as with Numa for robbing him of the pleasures of revenge . Wondering what could have become of his possessions , the ape-man turned slowly back along the trail in the direction from which he had come . In his mind he revolved a plan to enter and search the Arab camp , after darkness had again fallen . Taking to the trees , he moved directly south in search of prey , that he might satisfy his hunger before midday , and then lie up for the afternoon in some spot far from the camp , where he might sleep without fear of discovery until it came time to prosecute his design . Scarcely had he quitted the trail when a tall , black warrior , moving at a dogged trot , passed toward the east . It was Mugambi , searching for his mistress . He continued along the trail , halting to examine the body of the dead lion .