Finally there was only one left and the coast was a full day's march away.

Could he make it?
It looked like a desperate chance, but he still had hopes.

He noticed with pleasure that the lion was becoming fat and probably could not travel fast.

But he also noticed with displeasure that he had forty feet of chain and nine heavy iron neck rings to lug along and that extra weight naturally greatly handicapped him.

It was a thrilling race--the coast only one day away and life or death the prize! Who can imagine the feelings of the poor slave?
But with a stout heart he struggled on through poisonous morasses, and pushed his way through snaky creepers.