Fearless Master of the Jungle (A Bunduki Jungle Adventure Read Free Page B

staring with horror at the animal which was
menacing their mounts. ‘How can we stop it?’
    There was, the blond giant
silently conceded, good cause for the girl ’s consternation and
question.
    Supplying an answer was easy
enough!
    Carrying it out would be far
harder!
    The predator was not one which
could have been encountered on the plains of Africa. In fact, if
anything, it was far more dangerous than any kind of carnivore to
be found roaming at liberty on that continent. Not even the largest
lion could have matched it in size, weight and strength. Nor,
unless conditions were favorable, could a good-sized Nile crocodile have
survived in a fight with it.
    Almost eight feet in length—of
which a mere three inches was tail—and a good half of that in
height, the long, yellowish-brown hairs of the coat and various
other physical features identified the predator as belonging to the
California Coast sub-species of the North American grizzly bear
which was designated Ursus Horribilis Californicus. The race’s great size,
truculent temperament and predilection for eating meat—particularly
that of easily caught domestic animals—had caused its extinction on
Earth. From all appearances, those which had been transported to
Zillikian still retained their forebears’ xv feeding habits.
    Slouching forward, the
distinctive lump on its shoulders giving it a decidedly humpbacked
appearance, the bear was clearly hungry and meant to make a meal
from one, or both, of the banar-gatahs. Furthermore, it was superbly equipped to
carry out its intentions. Supported on a short, thick neck, the
skull—with its small, rounded ears placed well back and wide
apart—had a bluntish muzzle and a forehead which was so strongly
elevated above the line of the face as to produce a somewhat
concave profile. Long and narrow though the mouth might be, it was
operated by very powerful muscles and armed with sharp canine teeth
to augment the broad-crowned crushing molars. While it lacked the
ability to open its jaws as wide as could a member of the canine or
feline species, relatively speaking, this did not render it any
less capable of delivering a severely damaging bite. The great
claws on the forefeet, driven by the propulsion of the sturdy legs
and the enormous strength of its massively built seven hundred and
fifty pounds’ body made equally effective weapons.
    Tackling such a formidable creature
with only such primitive devices as the bows, arrows and
knives—their excellent design and the superb quality of the
materials from which they had been manufactured notwithstanding—was
no task to be undertaken lightly.
    There had been a growing tendency
among certain professional naturalists and self-appointed
authorities on conservation on Earth to try and foist on the public
the belief that no animal was dangerous, or would think of
attacking a human being without the most extreme provocation.
According to the theories they propounded, the reputation of
ferocity and aggression given to various animals was nothing but a
tissue of lies created by sportsmen to justify hunting and
killing.
    Provided that Dawn and Bunduki
had been willing to accept the ‘discoveries’ of some of the modern
naturalists at face value, there was an absurdly simple and
danger-free way for them to solve their dilemma. All they needed to
do was advance boldly and shout at the grizzly bear who would be
terrified of human beings and, anyway, would have no desire to harm
them.
    It was fortunate for the young
couple that they appreciated the correct perspective of the
naturalists ’
explanations. They conceded that such behavior might happen on the planet of their birth,
but realized it most certainly would not in the primitive world to
which the “Suppliers” had transported them. Their knowledge did not
stem out of studies made from the safety of a motor vehicle in a
national park where the creatures were accustomed to human beings,
and where radically changed living