Sentence:  He was soon upon his feet, another assegai whistled through the air, and pierced through the neck of the lioness. But, as before, the wound was not fatal, and the animal, now enraged to a frenzy, charged once more upon her assailant. So rapid was her advance that it was with great difficulty Congo got under cover. A moment later, and his <WSD>"ruse</WSD>" would have failed, for the claws of the lion rattled upon the shield as it descended. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An action intended to deceive; a trick.