Once again they were frozen with horror as the hungry beast devoured the last man in the row--number nine.

Again they sat helpless while the man-eater slowly finished his supper, and again they were overjoyed to see him depart from their midst.

As soon as the last vestige of his tail had disappeared from view they scrambled up and hiked briskly toward the coast, nine days away.
[Drawing: _While the Man-Eater Finished His Supper_] They were now thoroughly alarmed, and almost dreaded the supper hour.
The next night the lion caught up with them again and proceeded to devour number eight.

He then peacefully ambled away, leaving another empty ring.
The next night there was a spirited contest to see which end of the chain should be last, but a vote was taken and it was decided six to one in favor of continuing in their original formation.

The one who voted against was eaten that night and the remaining six, with the four empty rings clanking behind them, resumed their mournful march to the coast, six days away.
[Drawing: _Two to One_] For five nights after this, the lion caught up with them and diminished their number by five.