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8/4/2019 01 - Tarzan of the Apes
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/01-tarzan-of-the-apes 1/567
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Edgar Rice Borr ougs
Tarzanof the A pes
Tarzan - 01
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Contents
Chapter I Out to Sea .........................................
Chapter II The Savage Home...........................2
Chapter III Life and Death...............................4
Chapter IV The Apes.......................................6Chapter V The White Ape ...............................8
Chapter VI Jungle Battles ................................9
Chapter VII The Light of Knowledge ..............1
Chapter VIII The Tree-top Hunter .................13Chapter IX Man and Man ..............................15
Chapter X The Fear-Phantom ........................17
Chapter XI "King of the Apes" ......................18
Chapter XII Man's Reason.............................20Chapter XIII His Own Kind...........................22
Chapter XIV At the Mercy of the Jungle ..........25
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Chapter XV The Forest God ..........................27
Chapter XVI "Most Remarkable" ..................28
Chapter XVII Burials.....................................30
Chapter XVIII The Jungle Toll......................33
Chapter XIX The Call of the Primitive.............35
Chapter XX Heredity.....................................37Chapter XXI The Village of Torture ..............40
Chapter XXII The Search Party .....................4
Chapter XXIII Brother Men...........................44
Chapter XXIV Lost Treasure.........................45Chapter XXV The Outpost of the World...........47
Chapter XXVI The Height of Civilization .....49
Chapter XXVII The Giant Again ...................52
Chapter XXVIII Conclusion ..........................54
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Chapter I Out to S ea
I had this story from one who had n
business to tell it to me, or to any other. I m
credit the seductive influence of an old vintag
upon the narrator for the beginning of it, and mown skeptical incredulity during the days th
followed for the balance of the strange tale.
When my convivial host discovered that h
had told me so much, and that I was prone
doubtfulness, his foolish pride assumed the tathe old vintage had commenced, and so h
unearthed written evidence in the form of mus
manuscript, and dry official records of the Briti
Colonial Office to support many of the salie
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features of his remarkable narrative.
I do not say the story is true, for I did n
witness the happenings which it portrays, but th
fact that in the telling of it to you I have takfictitious names for the principal characters qui
sufficiently evidences the sincerity of my ow
belief that it MAY be true.
The yellow, mildewed pages of the diary ofman long dead, and the records of the Coloni
Office dovetail perfectly with the narrative of m
convivial host, and so I give you the story as
painstakingly pieced it out from these sever
various agencies.If you do not find it credible you will at lea
be as one with me in acknowledging that it
unique, remarkable, and interesting.
From the records of the Colonial Office an
from the dead man's diary we learn that a certa
young English nobleman, whom we shall ca
John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, w
commissioned to make a peculiarly delica
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investigation of conditions in a British We
Coast African Colony from whose simple nativ
inhabitants another European power was know
to be recruiting soldiers for its native armwhich it used solely for the forcible collection
rubber and ivory from the savage tribes along th
Congo and the Aruwimi. The natives of t
British Colony complained that many of theyoung men were enticed away through t
medium of fair and glowing promises, but th
few if any ever returned to their families.
The Englishmen in Africa went even furthe
saying that these poor blacks were held in virtuslavery, since after their terms of enlistme
expired their ignorance was imposed upon b
their white officers, and they were told that th
had yet several years to serve.
And so the Colonial Office appointed Joh
Clayton to a new post in British West Africa, b
his confidential instructions centered on
thorough investigation of the unfair treatment
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black British subjects by the officers of a friend
European power. Why he was sent, is, howeve
of little moment to this story, for he never mad
an investigation, nor, in fact, did he ever reachis destination.
Clayton was the type of Englishman that o
likes best to associate with the noble
monuments of historic achievement upon thousand victorious battlefields-a strong, viri
man-mentally, morally, and physically.
In stature he was above the average height; h
eyes were gray, his features regular and stron
his carriage that of perfect, robust healinfluenced by his years of army training.
Political ambition had caused him to se
transference from the army to the Coloni
Office and so we find him, still young, entrust
with a delicate and important commission in th
service of the Queen.
When he received this appointment he w
both elated and appalled. The preferment seeme
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to him in the nature of a well-merited reward f
painstaking and intelligent service, and as
stepping stone to posts of greater importance an
responsibility; but, on the other hand, he habeen married to the Hon. Alice Rutherford f
scarce a three months, and it was the thought
taking this fair young girl into the dangers an
isolation of tropical Africa that appalled him.For her sake he would have refused th
appointment, but she would not have it s
Instead she insisted that he accept, and, indee
take her with him.
There were mothers and brothers and sisterand aunts and cousins to express vario
opinions on the subject, but as to what th
severally advised history is silent.
We know only that on a bright May mornin
in 1888, John, Lord Greystoke, and Lady Ali
sailed from Dover on their way to Africa.
A month later they arrived at Freetown whe
they chartered a small sailing vessel, the Fuwal
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which was to bear them to their final destination
And here John, Lord Greystoke, and Lad
Alice, his wife, vanished from the eyes and fro
the knowledge of men.Two months after they weighed anchor an
cleared from the port of Freetown a half doze
British war vessels were scouring the sou
Atlantic for trace of them or their little vesseand it was almost immediately that the wreckag
was found upon the shores of St. Helena whic
convinced the world that the Fuwalda had gon
down with all on board, and hence the sear
was stopped ere it had scarce begun; though hoplingered in longing hearts for many years.
The Fuwalda, a barkentine of about o
hundred tons, was a vessel of the type often see
in coastwise trade in the far southern Atlanti
their crews composed of the offscourings of th
sea-unhanged murderers and cutthroats of eve
race and every nation.
The Fuwalda was no exception to the rule. H
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officers were swarthy bullies, hating and hate
by their crew. The captain, while a compete
seaman, was a brute in his treatment of his me
He knew, or at least he used, but two argumenin his dealings with them-a belaying pin and
revolver-nor is it likely that the motl
aggregation he signed would have understoo
aught else.So it was that from the second day out fro
Freetown John Clayton and his young wi
witnessed scenes upon the deck of the Fuwal
such as they had believed were never enacte
outside the covers of printed stories of the sea.It was on the morning of the second day th
the first link was forged in what was destined
form a chain of circumstances ending in a life f
one then unborn such as has never be
paralleled in the history of man.
Two sailors were washing down the decks
the Fuwalda, the first mate was on duty, and t
captain had stopped to speak with John Clayto
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and Lady Alice.
The men were working backwards toward th
little party who were facing away from th
sailors. Closer and closer they came, until one them was directly behind the captain. In anoth
moment he would have passed by and th
strange narrative would never have bee
recorded.But just that instant the officer turned to leav
Lord and Lady Greystoke, and, as he did s
tripped against the sailor and sprawled headlon
upon the deck, overturning the water-pail so th
he was drenched in its dirty contents.For an instant the scene was ludicrous; b
only for an instant. With a volley of awful oath
his face suffused with the scarlet of mortificatio
and rage, the captain regained his feet, and with
terrific blow felled the sailor to the deck.
The man was small and rather old, so that th
brutality of the act was thus accentuated. Th
other seaman, however, was neither old n
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small-a huge bear of a man, with fierce bla
mustachios, and a great bull neck set betwee
massive shoulders.
As he saw his mate go down he crouched, anwith a low snarl, sprang upon the capta
crushing him to his knees with a single migh
blow.
From scarlet the officer's face went white, fthis was mutiny; and mutiny he had met an
subdued before in his brutal career. Witho
waiting to rise he whipped a revolver from h
pocket, firing point blank at the great mounta
of muscle towering before him; but, quick as hwas, John Clayton was almost as quick, so th
the bullet which was intended for the sailo
heart lodged in the sailor's leg instead, for Lo
Greystoke had struck down the captain's arm
he had seen the weapon flash in the sun.
Words passed between Clayton and t
captain, the former making it plain that he w
disgusted with the brutality displayed toward th
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crew, nor would he countenance anything furth
of the kind while he and Lady Greystok
remained passengers.
The captain was on the point of making angry reply, but, thinking better of it, turned o
his heel and black and scowling, strode aft.
He did not care to antagonize an Engli
official, for the Queen's mighty arm wieldedpunitive instrument which he could appreciat
and which he feared-England's far-reaching nav
The two sailors picked themselves up, t
older man assisting his wounded comrade to ris
The big fellow, who was known among hmates as Black Michael, tried his leg gingerl
and, finding that it bore his weight, turned
Clayton with a word of gruff thanks.
Though the fellow's tone was surly, his wor
were evidently well meant. Ere he had scar
finished his little speech he had turned and w
limping off toward the forecastle with the ve
apparent intention of forestalling any furth
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conversation.
They did not see him again for several day
nor did the captain accord them more than th
surliest of grunts when he was forced to speak them.
They took their meals in his cabin, as they ha
before the unfortunate occurrence; but t
captain was careful to see that his duties nevpermitted him to eat at the same time.
The other officers were coarse, illitera
fellows, but little above the villainous crew th
bullied, and were only too glad to avoid soci
intercourse with the polished English noble anhis lady, so that the Claytons were left very mu
to themselves.
This in itself accorded perfectly with the
desires, but it also rather isolated them from th
life of the little ship so that they were unable
keep in touch with the daily happenings whi
were to culminate so soon in bloody tragedy.
There was in the whole atmosphere of the cra
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that undefinable something which presag
disaster. Outwardly, to the knowledge of th
Claytons, all went on as before upon the litt
vessel; but that there was an undertow leadinthem toward some unknown danger both fe
though they did not speak of it to each other.
On the second day after the wounding
Black Michael, Clayton came on deck just time to see the limp body of one of the cre
being carried below by four of his fellows whi
the first mate, a heavy belaying pin in his han
stood glowering at the little party of sulle
sailors.Clayton asked no questions-he did not need t
and the following day, as the great lines of
British battleship grew out of the distant horizo
he half determined to demand that he and Lad
Alice be put aboard her, for his fears we
steadily increasing that nothing but harm cou
result from remaining on the lowering, sulle
Fuwalda.
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Toward noon they were within speakin
distance of the British vessel, but when Clayto
had nearly decided to ask the captain to put the
aboard her, the obvious ridiculousness of suchrequest became suddenly apparent. What reaso
could he give the officer commanding h
majesty's ship for desiring to go back in th
direction from which he had just come!What if he told them that two insubordina
seamen had been roughly handled by the
officers? They would but laugh in their sleev
and attribute his reason for wishing to leave th
ship to but one thing-cowardice.John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, did not ask
be transferred to the British man-of-war. Late
the afternoon he saw her upper works fade belo
the far horizon, but not before he learned th
which confirmed his greatest fears, and caus
him to curse the false pride which had restraine
him from seeking safety for his young wife a fe
short hours before, when safety was with
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reach-a safety which was now gone forever.
It was mid-afternoon that brought the little o
sailor, who had been felled by the captain a fe
days before, to where Clayton and his wife stooby the ship's side watching the ever diminishin
outlines of the great battleship. The old fello
was polishing brasses, and as he came edgin
along until close to Clayton he said, in undertone:
"'Ell's to pay, sir, on this 'ere craft, an' ma
my word for it, sir. 'Ell's to pay."
"What do you mean, my good fellow?" aske
Clayton."Wy, hasn't ye seen wats goin' on? Hasn't
'eard that devil's spawn of a capting an' is mat
knockin' the bloomin' lights outen 'arf the crew?
"Two busted 'eads yeste'day, an' three to-da
Black Michael's as good as new agin an' 'e's n
the bully to stand fer it, not 'e; an' mark my wo
for it, sir."
"You mean, my man, that the cre
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contemplates mutiny?" asked Clayton.
"Mutiny!" exclaimed the old fellow. "Mutin
They means murder, sir, an' mark my word for
sir.""When?"
"Hit's comin', sir; hit's comin' but I'm not
sayin' wen, an' I've said too damned much now
but ye was a good sort t'other day an' I thoughtno more'n right to warn ye. But keep a st
tongue in yer 'ead an' when ye 'ear shootin' g
below an' stay there.
"That's all, only keep a still tongue in yer 'ea
or they'll put a pill between yer ribs, an' mark mword for it, sir," and the old fellow went on wi
his polishing, which carried him away fro
where the Claytons were standing.
"Deuced cheerful outlook, Alice," sa
Clayton.
"You should warn the captain at once, Joh
Possibly the trouble may yet be averted," sh
said.
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"I suppose I should, but yet from purely selfi
motives I am almost prompted to 'keep a st
tongue in my 'ead.' Whatever they do now th
will spare us in recognition of my stand for thfellow Black Michael, but should they find tha
had betrayed them there would be no mer
shown us, Alice."
"You have but one duty, John, and that lies the interest of vested authority. If you do n
warn the captain you are as much a party
whatever follows as though you had helped
plot and carry it out with your own head an
hands.""You do not understand, dear," replie
Clayton. "It is of you I am thinking-there lies m
first duty. The captain has brought this conditio
upon himself, so why then should I ri
subjecting my wife to unthinkable horrors in
probably futile attempt to save him from his ow
brutal folly? You have no conception, dear,
what would follow were this pack of cutthroa
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to gain control of the Fuwalda."
"Duty is duty, John, and no amount
sophistries may change it. I would be a poor wi
for an English lord were I to be responsible fhis shirking a plain duty. I realize the dang
which must follow, but I can face it with you."
"Have it as you will then, Alice," he answere
smiling. "Maybe we are borrowing troublWhile I do not like the looks of things on boa
this ship, they may not be so bad after all, for it
possible that the 'Ancient Mariner' was b
voicing the desires of his wicked old heart rath
than speaking of real facts."Mutiny on the high sea may have bee
common a hundred years ago, but in this goo
year 1888 it is the least likely of happenings.
"But there goes the captain to his cabin now.
I am going to warn him I might as well get t
beastly job over for I have little stomach to ta
with the brute at all."
So saying he strolled carelessly in th
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direction of the companionway through whic
the captain had passed, and a moment later w
knocking at his door.
"Come in," growled the deep tones of thsurly officer.
And when Clayton had entered, and closed th
door behind him:
"Well?""I have come to report the gist of
conversation I heard to-day, because I feel tha
while there may be nothing to it, it is as well th
you be forearmed. In short, the men contempla
mutiny and murder.""It's a lie!" roared the captain. "And if yo
have been interfering again with the discipline
this ship, or meddling in affairs that don
concern you you can take the consequences, an
be damned. I don't care whether you are
English lord or not. I'm captain of this here shi
and from now on you keep your meddling no
out of my business."
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The captain had worked himself up to such
frenzy of rage that he was fairly purple of fac
and he shrieked the last words at the top of h
voice, emphasizing his remarks by a louthumping of the table with one huge fist, an
shaking the other in Clayton's face.
Greystoke never turned a hair, but stood eyin
the excited man with level gaze."Captain Billings," he drawled finally, "if yo
will pardon my candor, I might remark that yo
are something of an ass."
Whereupon he turned and left the captain wi
the same indifferent ease that was habitual wihim, and which was more surely calculated
raise the ire of a man of Billings' class than
torrent of invective.
So, whereas the captain might easily hav
been brought to regret his hasty speech ha
Clayton attempted to conciliate him, his temp
was now irrevocably set in the mold in whic
Clayton had left it, and the last chance of the
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working together for their common good w
gone.
"Well, Alice," said Clayton, as he rejoined h
wife, "I might have saved my breath. The felloproved most ungrateful. Fairly jumped at me lik
a mad dog.
"He and his blasted old ship may hang, f
aught I care; and until we are safely off the thinI shall spend my energies in looking after o
own welfare. And I rather fancy the first step
that end should be to go to our cabin and loo
over my revolvers. I am sorry now that w
packed the larger guns and the ammunition withe stuff below."
They found their quarters in a bad state
disorder. Clothing from their open boxes an
bags strewed the little apartment, and even the
beds had been torn to pieces.
"Evidently someone was more anxious abo
our belongings than we," said Clayton. "Le
have a look around, Alice, and see wha
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missing."
A thorough search revealed the fact th
nothing had been taken but Clayton's tw
revolvers and the small supply of ammunition hhad saved out for them.
"Those are the very things I most wish th
had left us," said Clayton,
"and the fact that they wished for them anthem alone is most sinister."
"What are we to do, John?" asked his wif
"Perhaps you were right in that our best chan
lies in maintaining a neutral position.
"If the officers are able to prevent a mutinwe have nothing to fear, while if the mutinee
are victorious our one slim hope lies in n
having attempted to thwart or antagonize them.
"Right you are, Alice. We'll keep in the midd
of the road."
As they started to straighten up their cabi
Clayton and his wife simultaneously noticed th
corner of a piece of paper protruding fro
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beneath the door of their quarters. As Clayto
stooped to reach for it he was amazed to see
move further into the room, and then he realize
that it was being pushed inward by someonfrom without.
Quickly and silently he stepped toward t
door, but, as he reached for the knob to throw
open, his wife's hand fell upon his wrist."No, John," she whispered. "They do not wi
to be seen, and so we cannot afford to see them
Do not forget that we are keeping to the midd
of the road."
Clayton smiled and dropped his hand to hside. Thus they stood watching the little bit
white paper until it finally remained at rest upo
the floor just inside the door.
Then Clayton stooped and picked it up. It w
a bit of grimy, white paper roughly folded into
ragged square. Opening it they found a crud
message printed almost illegibly, and with man
evidences of an unaccustomed task.
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Translated, it was a warning to the Claytons
refrain from reporting the loss of the revolver
or from repeating what the old sailor had to
them-to refrain on pain of death."I rather imagine we'll be good," said Clayto
with a rueful smile.
"About all we can do is to sit tight and wait f
whatever may come."
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Chapter II The S avage H om e
Nor did they have long to wait, for the ne
morning as Clayton was emerging on deck f
his accustomed walk before breakfast, a sh
rang out, and then another, and another.The sight which met his eyes confirmed h
worst fears. Facing the little knot of officers w
the entire motley crew of the Fuwalda, and
their head stood Black Michael.
At the first volley from the officers the meran for shelter, and from points of vanta
behind masts, wheel-house and cabin th
returned the fire of the five men who represent
the hated authority of the ship
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Two of their number had gone down befo
the captain's revolver. They lay where they ha
fallen between the combatants. But then the fir
mate lunged forward upon his face, and at a cof command from Black Michael the mutinee
charged the remaining four. The crew had be
able to muster but six firearms, so most of the
were armed with boat hooks, axes, hatchets ancrowbars.
The captain had emptied his revolver and w
reloading as the charge was made. The secon
mate's gun had jammed, and so there were b
two weapons opposed to the mutineers as thbore down upon the officers, who now started
give back before the infuriated rush of their men
Both sides were cursing and swearing in
frightful manner, which, together with the repor
of the firearms and the screams and groans of t
wounded, turned the deck of the Fuwalda to t
likeness of a madhouse.
Before the officers had taken a doz
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backward steps the men were upon them. An
in the hands of a burly Negro cleft the capta
from forehead to chin, and an instant later th
others were down: dead or wounded from dozeof blows and bullet wounds.
Short and grisly had been the work of th
mutineers of the Fuwalda, and through it all Joh
Clayton had stood leaning carelessly beside thcompanionway puffing meditatively upon h
pipe as though he had been but watching
indifferent cricket match.
As the last officer went down he thought
was time that he returned to his wife lest sommembers of the crew find her alone below.
Though outwardly calm and indifferen
Clayton was inwardly apprehensive and wroug
up, for he feared for his wife's safety at the han
of these ignorant, half-brutes into whose han
fate had so remorselessly thrown them.
As he turned to descend the ladder he w
surprised to see his wife standing on the ste
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almost at his side.
"How long have you been here, Alice?"
"Since the beginning," she replied. "Ho
awful, John. Oh, how awful!What can we hope for at the hands of such
those?"
"Breakfast, I hope," he answered, smilin
bravely in an attempt to allay her fears."At least," he added, "I'm going to ask them
Come with me, Alice. We must not let the
think we expect any but courteous treatment."
The men had by this time surrounded the dea
and wounded officers, and without eithpartiality or compassion proceeded to throw bo
living and dead over the sides of the vessel. Wi
equal heartlessness they disposed of their ow
dead and dying.
Presently one of the crew spied t
approaching Claytons, and with a cry of: "Here
two more for the fishes," rushed toward the
with uplifted ax.
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But Black Michael was even quicker, so th
the fellow went down with a bullet in his bac
before he had taken a half dozen steps.
With a loud roar, Black Michael attracted thattention of the others, and, pointing to Lord an
Lady Greystoke, cried:
"These here are my friends, and they are to b
left alone. D'ye understand?"I'm captain of this ship now, an' what I sa
goes," he added, turning to Clayton. "Just keep
yourselves, and nobody'll harm ye," and h
looked threateningly on his fellows.
The Claytons heeded Black Michaeinstructions so well that they saw but little of t
crew and knew nothing of the plans the m
were making.
Occasionally they heard faint echoes of braw
and quarreling among the mutineers, and on tw
occasions the vicious bark of firearms rang o
on the still air. But Black Michael was a
leader for this band of cutthroats, and, with
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held them in fair subjection to his rule.
On the fifth day following the murder of th
ship's officers, land was sighted by the lookou
Whether island or mainland, Black Michael dnot know, but he announced to Clayton that
investigation showed that the place was habitab
he and Lady Greystoke were to be put asho
with their belongings."You'll be all right there for a few months," h
explained, "and by that time we'll have been ab
to make an inhabited coast somewhere an
scatter a bit. Then I'll see that yer gover'men
notified where you be an' they'll soon send man-o'war to fetch ye off.
"It would be a hard matter to land you
civilization without a lot o' questions being aske
an' none o' us here has any very convinci
answers up our sleeves."
Clayton remonstrated against the inhumani
of landing them upon an unknown shore to b
left to the mercies of savage beasts, and, possib
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still more savage men.
But his words were of no avail, and on
tended to anger Black Michael, so he was force
to desist and make the best he could of a basituation.
About three o'clock in the afternoon they cam
about off a beautiful wooded shore opposite th
mouth of what appeared to be a land-lockeharbor.
Black Michael sent a small boat filled wi
men to sound the entrance in an effort
determine if the Fuwalda could be safely work
through the entrance.In about an hour they returned and report
deep water through the passage as well as f
into the little basin.
Before dark the barkentine lay peacefully
anchor upon the bosom of the still, mirror-lik
surface of the harbor.
The surrounding shores were beautiful wi
semitropical verdure, while in the distance th
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country rose from the ocean in hill and tablelan
almost uniformly clothed by primeval forest.
No signs of habitation were visible, but th
the land might easily support human life wevidenced by the abundant bird and animal li
of which the watchers on the Fuwalda's de
caught occasional glimpses, as well as by th
shimmer of a little river which emptied into tharbor, insuring fresh water in plenitude.
As darkness settled upon the earth, Clayto
and Lady Alice still stood by the ship's rail
silent contemplation of their future abode. Fro
the dark shadows of the mighty forest came thwild calls of savage beasts-the deep roar of t
lion, and, occasionally, the shrill scream of
panther.
The woman shrank closer to the man in terro
stricken anticipation of the horrors lying in wa
for them in the awful blackness of the nights
come, when they should be alone upon that wi
and lonely shore.
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Later in the evening Black Michael joine
them long enough to instruct them to make the
preparations for landing on the morrow. Th
tried to persuade him to take them to some mohospitable coast near enough to civilization
that they might hope to fall into friendly hands.
But no pleas, or threats, or promises of rewa
could move him."I am the only man aboard who would n
rather see ye both safely dead, and, while I kno
that's the sensible way to make sure of our ow
necks, yet Black Michael's not the man to forg
a favor. Ye saved my life once, and in return I'goin' to spare yours, but that's all I can do.
"The men won't stand for any more, and if w
don't get ye landed pretty quick they may eve
change their minds about giving ye that mu
show.
I'll put all yer stuff ashore with ye as well
cookin' utensils an' some old sails for tents, a
enough grub to last ye until ye can find fruit an
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game.
"With yer guns for protection, ye ought to b
able to live here easy enough until help come
When I get safely hid away I'll see to it that tBritish gover'ment learns about where ye be; f
the life of me I couldn't tell 'em exactly wher
for I don't know myself. But they'll find ye a
right."After he had left them they went silent
below, each wrapped in gloomy forebodings.
Clayton did not believe that Black Micha
had the slightest intention of notifying the Briti
government of their whereabouts, nor was he antoo sure but that some treachery w
contemplated for the following day when the
should be on shore with the sailors who wou
have to accompany them with their belongings.
Once out of Black Michael's sight any of th
men might strike them down, and still leav
Black Michael's conscience clear.
And even should they escape that fate was
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not but to be faced with far graver danger
Alone, he might hope to survive for years; for
was a strong, athletic man.
But what of Alice, and that other little life soon to be launched amidst the hardships an
grave dangers of a primeval world?
The man shuddered as he meditated upon th
awful gravity, the fearful helplessness, of thesituation. But it was a merciful Providence whi
prevented him from foreseeing the hideo
reality which awaited them in the grim depths
that gloomy wood.
Early next morning their numerous chests anboxes were hoisted on deck and lowered
waiting small boats for transportation to shore.
There was a great quantity and variety of stu
as the Claytons had expected a possible five
eight years' residence in their new home.
Thus, in addition to the many necessities the
had brought, there were also many luxuries.
Black Michael was determined that nothin
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belonging to the Claytons should be left on boa
Whether out of compassion for them, or
furtherance of his own self-interests, it would
difficult to say.There was no question but that the presence
property of a missing British official upon
suspicious vessel would have been a difficu
thing to explain in any civilized port in the worSo zealous was he in his efforts to carry o
his intentions that he insisted upon the return
Clayton's revolvers to him by the sailors
whose possession they were.
Into the small boats were also loaded sameats and biscuit, with a small supply
potatoes and beans, matches, and cooking vesse
a chest of tools, and the old sails which Bla
Michael had promised them.
As though himself fearing the very thin
which Clayton had suspected, Black Micha
accompanied them to shore, and was the last
leave them when the small boats, having fille
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the ship's casks with fresh water, were pushe
out toward the waiting Fuwalda.
As the boats moved slowly over the smoo
waters of the bay, Clayton and his wife stoosilently watching their departure-in the breasts
both a feeling of impending disaster and utt
hopelessness.
And behind them, over the edge of a low ridgother eyes watched-close set, wicked eye
gleaming beneath shaggy brows.
As the Fuwalda passed through the narro
entrance to the harbor and out of sight behind
projecting point, Lady Alice threw her armabout Clayton's neck and burst into uncontrolle
sobs.
Bravely had she faced the dangers of t
mutiny; with heroic fortitude she had looked in
the terrible future; but now that the horror
absolute solitude was upon them, h
overwrought nerves gave way, and the reactio
came.
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He did not attempt to check her tears. It we
better that nature have her way in relieving the
long-pent emotions, and it was many minut
before the girl-little more than a child she wacould again gain mastery of herself.
"Oh, John," she cried at last, "the horror of
What are we to do?
What are we to do?""There is but one thing to do, Alice," and h
spoke as quietly as though they were sitting
their snug living room at home, "and that is wo
Work must be our salvation. We must not giv
ourselves time to think, for in that direction limadness.
"We must work and wait. I am sure that reli
will come, and come quickly, when once it
apparent that the Fuwalda has been lost, ev
though Black Michael does not keep his word
us."
"But John, if it were only you and I," sh
sobbed, "we could endure it I know; but-"
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"Yes, dear," he answered, gently, "I have be
thinking of that, also; but we must face it, as w
must face whatever comes, bravely and with th
utmost confidence in our ability to cope wicircumstances whatever they may be.
"Hundreds of thousands of years ago o
ancestors of the dim and distant past faced t
same problems which we must face, possibly these same primeval forests. That we are he
today evidences their victory.
"What they did may we not do? And eve
better, for are we not armed with ages of superi
knowledge, and have we not the means protection, defense, and sustenance whi
science has given us, but of which they we
totally ignorant? What they accomplished, Alic
with instruments and weapons of stone and bon
surely that may we accomplish also."
"Ah, John, I wish that I might be a man with
man's philosophy, but I am but a woman, seein
with my heart rather than my head, and all tha
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can see is too horrible, too unthinkable to p
into words.
"I only hope you are right, John. I will do m
best to be a brave primeval woman, a fit mate fthe primeval man."
Clayton's first thought was to arrange
sleeping shelter for the night; something whic
might serve to protect them from prowling beasof prey.
He opened the box containing his rifles an
ammunition, that they might both be arme
against possible attack while at work, and th
together they sought a location for their firnight's sleeping place.
A hundred yards from the beach was a litt
level spot, fairly free of trees; here they decide
eventually to build a permanent house, but f
the time being they both thought it best
construct a little platform in the trees out of reac
of the larger of the savage beasts in whose real
they were.
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To this end Clayton selected four trees whi
formed a rectangle about eight feet square, an
cutting long branches from other trees h
constructed a framework around them, about tfeet from the ground, fastening the ends of th
branches securely to the trees by means of rop
a quantity of which Black Michael had furnishe
him from the hold of the Fuwalda.Across this framework Clayton placed oth
smaller branches quite close together. Th
platform he paved with the huge fronds
elephant's ear which grew in profusion abo
them, and over the fronds he laid a great safolded into several thicknesses.
Seven feet higher he constructed a simila
though lighter platform to serve as roof, an
from the sides of this he suspended the balan
of his sailcloth for walls.
When completed he had a rather snug litt
nest, to which he carried their blankets and som
of the lighter luggage.
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It was now late in the afternoon, and th
balance of the daylight hours were devoted to th
building of a rude ladder by means of whic
Lady Alice could mount to her new home.All during the day the forest about them ha
been filled with excited birds of brillia
plumage, and dancing, chattering monkeys, wh
watched these new arrivals and their wonderfnest building operations with every mark
keenest interest and fascination.
Notwithstanding that both Clayton and h
wife kept a sharp lookout they saw nothing
larger animals, though on two occasions they hseen their little simian neighbors come screamin
and chattering from the near-by ridge, castin
frightened glances back over their little shoulde
and evincing as plainly as though by speech th
they were fleeing some terrible thing which l
concealed there.
Just before dusk Clayton finished his ladde
and, filling a great basin with water from t
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near-by stream, the two mounted to t
comparative safety of their aerial chamber.
As it was quite warm, Clayton had left the sid
curtains thrown back over the roof, and as thesat, like Turks, upon their blankets, Lady Alic
straining her eyes into the darkening shadows
the wood, suddenly reached out and grasp
Clayton's arms."John," she whispered, "look! What is it,
man?"
As Clayton turned his eyes in the direction s
indicated, he saw silhouetted dimly against t
shadows beyond, a great figure standing uprigupon the ridge.
For a moment it stood as though listening an
then turned slowly, and melted into the shadow
of the jungle.
"What is it, John?"
"I do not know, Alice," he answered gravel
"it is too dark to see so far, and it may have be
but a shadow cast by the rising moon."
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"No, John, if it was not a man it was som
huge and grotesque mockery of man. Oh, I a
afraid."
He gathered her in his arms, whispering worof courage and love into her ears.
Soon after, he lowered the curtain walls, tyin
them securely to the trees so that, except for
little opening toward the beach, they weentirely enclosed.
As it was now pitch dark within their tin
aerie they lay down upon their blankets to try
gain, through sleep, a brief respite
forgetfulness.Clayton lay facing the opening at the front,
rifle and a brace of revolvers at his hand.
Scarcely had they closed their eyes than th
terrifying cry of a panther rang out from th
jungle behind them. Closer and closer it cam
until they could hear the great beast direct
beneath them. For an hour or more they heard
sniffing and clawing at the trees which support
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their platform, but at last it roamed away acro
the beach, where Clayton could see it clearly
the brilliant moonlight-a great, handsome bea
the largest he had ever seen.During the long hours of darkness they caug
but fitful snatches of sleep, for the night noises
a great jungle teeming with myriad animal li
kept their overwrought nerves on edge, so thathundred times they were startled to wakefulne
by piercing screams, or the stealthy moving
great bodies beneath them.
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Chapter III L ife and D eath
Morning found them but little, if at a
refreshed, though it was with a feeling of inten
relief that they saw the day dawn.
As soon as they had made their meagbreakfast of salt pork, coffee and biscuit, Clayto
commenced work upon their house, for
realized that they could hope for no safety and n
peace of mind at night until four strong wal
effectually barred the jungle life from them.The task was an arduous one and required th
better part of a month, though he built but o
small room. He constructed his cabin of sma
logs about six inches in diameter stopping th
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chinks with clay which he found at the depth of
few feet beneath the surface soil.
At one end he built a fireplace of small ston
from the beach. These also he set in clay anwhen the house had been entirely completed h
applied a coating of the clay to the entire outsid
surface to the thickness of four inches.
In the window opening he set small branchabout an inch in diameter both vertically an
horizontally, and so woven that they formed
substantial grating that could withstand t
strength of a powerful animal. Thus th
obtained air and proper ventilation without feof lessening the safety of their cabin.
The A-shaped roof was thatched with sma
branches laid close together and over these lon
jungle grass and palm fronds, with a final coatin
of clay.
The door he built of pieces of the packin
boxes which had held their belongings, nailin
one piece upon another, the grain of contiguo
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layers running transversely, until he had a sol
body some three inches thick and of such gre
strength that they were both moved to laughter
they gazed upon it.Here the greatest difficulty confronted Clayto
for he had no means whereby to hang h
massive door now that he had built it. After tw
days' work, however, he succeeded in fashionintwo massive hardwood hinges, and with these h
hung the door so that it opened and closed easil
The stuccoing and other final touches we
added after they moved into the house, whic
they had done as soon as the roof was on, pilintheir boxes before the door at night and th
having a comparatively safe and comfortab
habitation.
The building of a bed, chairs, table, an
shelves was a relatively easy matter, so that b
the end of the second month they were we
settled, and, but for the constant dread of atta
by wild beasts and the ever growing lonelines
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they were not uncomfortable or unhappy.
At night great beasts snarled and roared abo
their tiny cabin, but, so accustomed may on
become to oft repeated noises, that soon thpaid little attention to them, sleeping soundly th
whole night through.
Thrice had they caught fleeting glimpses
great man-like figures like that of the first nighbut never at sufficiently close range to kno
positively whether the half-seen forms we
those of man or brute.
The brilliant birds and the little monkeys ha
become accustomed to their new acquaintanceand as they had evidently never seen hum
beings before they presently, after their fir
fright had worn off, approached closer and clos
impelled by that strange curiosity whi
dominates the wild creatures of the forest and th
jungle and the plain, so that within the fir
month several of the birds had gone so far
even to accept morsels of food from the friend
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hands of the Claytons.
One afternoon, while Clayton was workin
upon an addition to their cabin, for
contemplated building several more rooms, number of their grotesque little friends cam
shrieking and scolding through the trees from th
direction of the ridge. Ever as they fled they ca
fearful glances back of them, and finally thstopped near Clayton jabbering excitedly to hi
as though to warn him of approaching danger.
At last he saw it, the thing the little monke
so feared-the man-brute of which the Clayto
had caught occasional fleeting glimpses.It was approaching through the jungle in
semi-erect position, now and then placing th
backs of its closed fists upon the ground-a gre
anthropoid ape, and, as it advanced, it emitt
deep guttural growls and an occasional lo
barking sound.
Clayton was at some distance from the cabi
having come to fell a particularly perfect tree f
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his building operations. Grown careless fro
months of continued safety, during which tim
he had seen no dangerous animals during th
daylight hours, he had left his rifles anrevolvers all within the little cabin, and now th
he saw the great ape crashing through th
underbrush directly toward him, and from
direction which practically cut him off froescape, he felt a vague little shiver play up an
down his spine.
He knew that, armed only with an ax, h
chances with this ferocious monster were sma
indeed-and Alice; O God, he thought, what wbecome of Alice?
There was yet a slight chance of reaching t
cabin. He turned and ran toward it, shouting
alarm to his wife to run in and close the gre
door in case the ape cut off his retreat.
Lady Greystoke had been sitting a little w
from the cabin, and when she heard his cry sh
looked up to see the ape springing with almo
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incredible swiftness, for so large and awkward a
animal, in an effort to head off Clayton.
With a low cry she sprang toward the cabi
and, as she entered, gave a backward glanwhich filled her soul with terror, for the bru
had intercepted her husband, who now stood
bay grasping his ax with both hands ready
swing it upon the infuriated animal when hshould make his final charge.
"Close and bolt the door, Alice," cried Clayto
"I can finish this fellow with my ax."
But he knew he was facing a horrible deat
and so did she.The ape was a great bull, weighing probab
three hundred pounds. His nasty, close-set ey
gleamed hatred from beneath his shaggy brow
while his great canine fangs were bared in
horrid snarl as he paused a moment before h
prey.
Over the brute's shoulder Clayton could s
the doorway of his cabin, not twenty pac
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distant, and a great wave of horror and fear swe
over him as he saw his young wife emerg
armed with one of his rifles.
She had always been afraid of firearms, anwould never touch them, but now she rushe
toward the ape with the fearlessness of a lione
protecting its young.
"Back, Alice," shouted Clayton, "for Godsake, go back."
But she would not heed, and just then the ap
charged, so that Clayton could say no more.
The man swung his ax with all his migh
strength, but the powerful brute seized it in thoterrible hands, and tearing it from Clayton's gra
hurled it far to one side.
With an ugly snarl he closed upon h
defenseless victim, but ere his fangs had reache
the throat they thirsted for, there was a sha
report and a bullet entered the ape's bac
between his shoulders.
Throwing Clayton to the ground the bea
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turned upon his new enemy.
There before him stood the terrified girl vain
trying to fire another bullet into the anima
body; but she did not understand the mechanisof the firearm, and the hammer fell futilely upo
an empty cartridge.
Almost simultaneously Clayton regained h
feet, and without thought of the utthopelessness of it, he rushed forward to drag th
ape from his wife's prostrate form.
With little or no effort he succeeded, and th
great bulk rolled inertly upon the turf before him
the ape was dead. The bullet had done its work.A hasty examination of his wife revealed n
marks upon her, and Clayton decided that th
huge brute had died the instant he had sprun
toward Alice.
Gently he lifted his wife's still unconscio
form, and bore her to the little cabin, but it w
fully two hours before she regaine
consciousness.
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Her first words filled Clayton with vagu
apprehension. For some time after regaining h
senses, Alice gazed wonderingly about t
interior of the little cabin, and then, with satisfied sigh, said:
"O, John, it is so good to be really home!
have had an awful dream, dear. I thought w
were no longer in London, but in some horribplace where great beasts attacked us."
"There, there, Alice," he said, stroking h
forehead, "try to sleep again, and do not wor
your head about bad dreams."
That night a little son was born in the tincabin beside the primeval forest, while a leopa
screamed before the door, and the deep notes of
lion's roar sounded from beyond the ridge.
Lady Greystoke never recovered from th
shock of the great ape's attack, and, though sh
lived for a year after her baby was born, she w
never again outside the cabin, nor did she ev
fully realize that she was not in England.
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Sometimes she would question Clayton as
the strange noises of the nights; the absence
servants and friends, and the strange rudeness
the furnishings within her room, but, though made no effort to deceive her, never could sh
grasp the meaning of it all.
In other ways she was quite rational, and t
joy and happiness she took in the possession her little son and the constant attentions of h
husband made that year a very happy one for he
the happiest of her young life.
That it would have been beset by worries an
apprehension had she been in full command her mental faculties Clayton well knew; so th
while he suffered terribly to see her so, the
were times when he was almost glad, for h
sake, that she could not understand.
Long since had he given up any hope of rescu
except through accident.
With unremitting zeal he had worked
beautify the interior of the cabin.
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Skins of lion and panther covered the floo
Cupboards and bookcases lined the walls. Od
vases made by his own hand from the clay of t
region held beautiful tropical flowers. Curtaiof grass and bamboo covered the windows, an
most arduous task of all, with his meag
assortment of tools he had fashioned lumber
neatly seal the walls and ceiling and lay a smoofloor within the cabin.
That he had been able to turn his hands at a
to such unaccustomed labor was a source of mi
wonder to him. But he loved the work because
was for her and the tiny life that had come cheer them, though adding a hundredfold to h
responsibilities and to the terribleness of the
situation.
During the year that followed, Clayton w
several times attacked by the great apes whic
now seemed to continually infest the vicinity
the cabin; but as he never again ventured outsid
without both rifle and revolvers he had little fe
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of the huge beasts.
He had strengthened the window protectio
and fitted a unique wooden lock to the cab
door, so that when he hunted for game and fruias it was constantly necessary for him to do
insure sustenance, he had no fear that any anim
could break into the little home.
At first he shot much of the game from tcabin windows, but toward the end the anima
learned to fear the strange lair from when
issued the terrifying thunder of his rifle.
In his leisure Clayton read, often aloud to h
wife, from the store of books he had brought ftheir new home. Among these were many f
little children-picture books, primers, readers-f
they had known that their little child would b
old enough for such before they might hope
return to England.
At other times Clayton wrote in his diar
which he had always been accustomed to keep
French, and in which he recorded the details
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their strange life. This book he kept locked in
little metal box.
A year from the day her little son was bo
Lady Alice passed quietly away in the night. Speaceful was her end that it was hours befo
Clayton could awake to a realization that his wi
was dead.
The horror of the situation came to him veslowly, and it is doubtful that he ever ful
realized the enormity of his sorrow and t
fearful responsibility that had devolved upon hi
with the care of that wee thing, his son, still
nursing babe.The last entry in his diary was made th
morning following her death, and there he recit
the sad details in a matter-of-fact way that ad
to the pathos of it; for it breathes a tired apath
born of long sorrow and hopelessness, whi
even this cruel blow could scarcely awake
further suffering:
My little son is crying for nourishment-
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Alice, Alice, what shall I do?
And as John Clayton wrote the last words h
hand was destined ever to pen, he dropped h
head wearily upon his outstretched arms whethey rested upon the table he had built for h
who lay still and cold in the bed beside him.
For a long time no sound broke the deathlik
stillness of the jungle midday save the piteowailing of the tiny man-child.
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Chapter IV The A pes
In the forest of the table-land a mile bac
from the ocean old Kerchak the Ape was on
rampage of rage among his people.
The younger and lighter members of his tribscampered to the higher branches of the gre
trees to escape his wrath; risking their lives upo
branches that scarce supported their weig
rather than face old Kerchak in one of his fits
uncontrolled anger.The other males scattered in all directions, b
not before the infuriated brute had felt th
vertebra of one snap between his great, foamin
jaws
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A luckless young female slipped from
insecure hold upon a high branch and cam
crashing to the ground almost at Kerchak's feet.
With a wild scream he was upon her, tearinggreat piece from her side with his mighty teet
and striking her viciously upon her head an
shoulders with a broken tree limb until her sku
was crushed to a jelly.And then he spied Kala, who, returning from
search for food with her young babe, w
ignorant of the state of the mighty male's temp
until suddenly the shrill warnings of her fellow
caused her to scamper madly for safety.But Kerchak was close upon her, so close th
he had almost grasped her ankle had she n
made a furious leap far into space from one tr
to another-a perilous chance which apes seldo
if ever take, unless so closely pursued by dang
that there is no alternative.
She made the leap successfully, but as sh
grasped the limb of the further tree the sudden j
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loosened the hold of the tiny babe where it clun
frantically to her neck, and she saw the litt
thing hurled, turning and twisting, to the groun
thirty feet below.With a low cry of dismay Kala rush
headlong to its side, thoughtless now of th
danger from Kerchak; but when she gathered th
wee, mangled form to her bosom life had left itWith low moans, she sat cuddling the body
her; nor did Kerchak attempt to molest her. Wi
the death of the babe his fit of demoniacal rag
passed as suddenly as it had seized him.
Kerchak was a huge king ape, weighinperhaps three hundred and fifty pounds. H
forehead was extremely low and receding, h
eyes bloodshot, small and close set to his coars
flat nose; his ears large and thin, but smaller th
most of his kind.
His awful temper and his mighty streng
made him supreme among the little tribe in
which he had been born some twenty yea
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before.
Now that he was in his prime, there was n
simian in all the mighty forest through which h
roved that dared contest his right to rule, nor dthe other and larger animals molest him.
Old Tantor, the elephant, alone of all the wi
savage life, feared him not-and he alone d
Kerchak fear. When Tantor trumpeted, the greape scurried with his fellows high among th
trees of the second terrace.
The tribe of anthropoids over which Kercha
ruled with an iron hand and bared fang
numbered some six or eight families, each famiconsisting of an adult male with his females an
their young, numbering in all some sixty
seventy apes.
Kala was the youngest mate of a male call
Tublat, meaning broken nose, and the child s
had seen dashed to death was her first; for s
was but nine or ten years old.
Notwithstanding her youth, she was large an
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powerful-a splendid, clean-limbed animal, with
round, high forehead, which denoted mo
intelligence than most of her kind possessed. S
also, she had a great capacity for mother love anmother sorrow.
But she was still an ape, a huge, fierce, terrib
beast of a species closely allied to the gorilla, y
more intelligent; which, with the strength of thecousin, made her kind the most fearsome
those awe-inspiring progenitors of man.
When the tribe saw that Kerchak's rage h
ceased they came slowly down from the
arboreal retreats and pursued again the variooccupations which he had interrupted.
The young played and frolicked about amon
the trees and bushes. Some of the adults l
prone upon the soft mat of dead and decayin
vegetation which covered the ground, whi
others turned over pieces of fallen branches an
clods of earth in search of the small bugs an
reptiles which formed a part of their food.
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Others, again, searched the surrounding tre
for fruit, nuts, small birds, and eggs.
They had passed an hour or so thus whe
Kerchak called them together, and, with a woof command to them to follow him, set o
toward the sea.
They traveled for the most part upon th
ground, where it was open, following the path the great elephants whose comings and goin
break the only roads through those tangled maz
of bush, vine, creeper, and tree. When th
walked it was with a rolling, awkward motio
placing the knuckles of their closed hands upothe ground and swinging their ungainly bodi
forward.
But when the way was through the lower tre
they moved more swiftly, swinging from branc
to branch with the agility of their smaller cousi
the monkeys. And all the way Kala carried h
little dead baby hugged closely to her breast.
It was shortly after noon when they reached
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ridge overlooking the beach where below the
lay the tiny cottage which was Kerchak's goal.
He had seen many of his kind go to the
deaths before the loud noise made by the littblack stick in the hands of the strange white ap
who lived in that wonderful lair, and Kercha
had made up his brute mind to own that deat
dealing contrivance, and to explore the interior the mysterious den.
He wanted, very, very much, to feel his tee
sink into the neck of the queer animal that he h
learned to hate and fear, and because of this, h
came often with his tribe to reconnoiter, waitinfor a time when the white ape should be off h
guard.
Of late they had quit attacking, or ev
showing themselves; for every time they ha
done so in the past the little stick had roared o
its terrible message of death to some member
the tribe.
Today there was no sign of the man about, an
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from where they watched they could see that th
cabin door was open. Slowly, cautiously, an
noiselessly they crept through the jungle towa
the little cabin.There were no growls, no fierce screams
rage-the little black stick had taught them
come quietly lest they awaken it.
On, on they came until Kerchak himself slunstealthily to the very door and peered withi
Behind him were two males, and then Kal
closely straining the little dead form to her brea
Inside the den they saw the strange white ap
lying half across a table, his head buried in harms; and on the bed lay a figure covered by
sailcloth, while from a tiny rustic cradle came th
plaintive wailing of a babe.
Noiselessly Kerchak entered, crouching for t
charge; and then John Clayton rose with
sudden start and faced them.
The sight that met his eyes must have froze
him with horror, for there, within the door, stoo
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three great bull apes, while behind them crowd
many more; how many he never knew, for h
revolvers were hanging on the far wall beside h
rifle, and Kerchak was charging.When the king ape released the limp for
which had been John Clayton, Lord Greystok
he turned his attention toward the little cradl
but Kala was there before him, and when would have grasped the child she snatched
herself, and before he could intercept her she h
bolted through the door and taken refuge in
high tree.
As she took up the little live baby of AliClayton she dropped the dead body of her ow
into the empty cradle; for the wail of the livin
had answered the call of universal motherhoo
within her wild breast which the dead could n
still.
High up among the branches of a mighty tr
she hugged the shrieking infant to her bosom
and soon the instinct that was as dominant in th
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fierce female as it had been in the breast of h
tender and beautiful mother-the instinct
mother love-reached out to the tiny man-child
half-formed understanding, and he became quieThen hunger closed the gap between them, an
the son of an English lord and an English lad
nursed at the breast of Kala, the great ape.
In the meantime the beasts within the cabwere warily examining the contents of th
strange lair.
Once satisfied that Clayton was dead, Kercha
turned his attention to the thing which lay upo
the bed, covered by a piece of sailcloth.Gingerly he lifted one corner of the shrou
but when he saw the body of the woman benea
he tore the cloth roughly from her form an
seized the still, white throat in his huge, hai
hands.
A moment he let his fingers sink deep into t
cold flesh, and then, realizing that she w
already dead, he turned from her, to examine th
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contents of the room; nor did he again molest th
body of either Lady Alice or Sir John.
The rifle hanging upon the wall caught his fir
attention; it was for this strange, death-dealinthunder-stick that he had yearned for months; b
now that it was within his grasp he scarcely ha
the temerity to seize it.
Cautiously he approached the thing, ready flee precipitately should it speak in its dee
roaring tones, as he had heard it speak before, t
last words to those of his kind who, throug
ignorance or rashness, had attacked th
wonderful white ape that had borne it.Deep in the beast's intelligence was somethin
which assured him that the thunder-stick w
only dangerous when in the hands of one wh
could manipulate it, but yet it was sever
minutes ere he could bring himself to touch it.
Instead, he walked back and forth along th
floor before it, turning his head so that nev
once did his eyes leave the object of his desire.
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Using his long arms as a man uses crutche
and rolling his huge carcass from side to si
with each stride, the great king ape paced to an
fro, uttering deep growls, occasionalpunctuated with the ear-piercing scream, th
which there is no more terrifying noise in all th
jungle.
Presently he halted before the rifle. Slowly hraised a huge hand until it almost touched th
shining barrel, only to withdraw it once more an
continue his hurried pacing.
It was as though the great brute by this sho
of fearlessness, and through the medium of hwild voice, was endeavoring to bolster up h
courage to the point which would permit him
take the rifle in his hand.
Again he stopped, and this time succeeded
forcing his reluctant hand to the cold steel, on
to snatch it away almost immediately and resum
his restless beat.
Time after time this strange ceremony w
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repeated, but on each occasion with increase
confidence, until, finally, the rifle was torn fro
its hook and lay in the grasp of the great brute.
Finding that it harmed him not, Kerchak begato examine it closely.
He felt of it from end to end, peered down th
black depths of the muzzle, fingered the sigh
the breech, the stock, and finally the trigger.During all these operations the apes who ha
entered sat huddled near the door watching the
chief, while those outside strained and crowd
to catch a glimpse of what transpired within.
Suddenly Kerchak's finger closed upon ttrigger. There was a deafening roar in the litt
room and the apes at and beyond the door fe
over one another in their wild anxiety to escape
Kerchak was equally frightened, so frightene
in fact, that he quite forgot to throw aside th
author of that fearful noise, but bolted for th
door with it tightly clutched in one hand.
As he passed through the opening, the fro
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sight of the rifle caught upon the edge of th
inswung door with sufficient force to close
tightly after the fleeing ape.
When Kerchak came to a halt a short distanfrom the cabin and discovered that he still he
the rifle, he dropped it as he might have dropp
a red hot iron, nor did he again attempt
recover it-the noise was too much for his brunerves; but he was now quite convinced that t
terrible stick was quite harmless by itself if le
alone.
It was an hour before the apes could aga
bring themselves to approach the cabin continue their investigations, and when th
finally did so, they found to their chagrin that th
door was closed and so securely fastened th
they could not force it.
The cleverly constructed latch which Clayto
had made for the door had sprung as Kerch
passed out; nor could the apes find means
ingress through the heavily barred windows.
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After roaming about the vicinity for a sho
time, they started back for the deeper forests an
the higher land from whence they had come.
Kala had not once come to earth with her littadopted babe, but now Kerchak called to her
descend with the rest, and as there was no note
anger in his voice she dropped lightly fro
branch to branch and joined the others on thehomeward march.
Those of the apes who attempted to examin
Kala's strange baby were repulsed with bare
fangs and low menacing growls, accompanied b
words of warning from Kala.When they assured her that they meant t
child no harm she permitted them to come clos
but would not allow them to touch her charge.
It was as though she knew that her baby w
frail and delicate and feared lest the rough han
of her fellows might injure the little thing.
Another thing she did, and which mad
traveling an onerous trial for her. Rememberin
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the death of her own little one, she clun
desperately to the new babe, with one han
whenever they were upon the march.
The other young rode upon their mothebacks; their little arms tightly clasping the hai
necks before them, while their legs were locke
beneath their mothers' armpits.
Not so with Kala; she held the small form the little Lord Greystoke tightly to her brea
where the dainty hands clutched the long blac
hair which covered that portion of her body. Sh
had seen one child fall from her back to a terrib
death, and she would take no further chancwith this.
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Chapter V The W hite A pe
Tenderly Kala nursed her little wa
wondering silently why it did not gain streng
and agility as did the little apes of other mother
It was nearly a year from the time the littfellow came into her possession before he wou
walk alone, and as for climbing-my, but ho
stupid he was!
Kala sometimes talked with the older femal
about her young hopeful, but none of them couunderstand how a child could be so slow an
backward in learning to care for itself. Why,
could not even find food alone, and more tha
twelve moons had passed since Kala had com
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upon it.
Had they known that the child had se
thirteen moons before it had come into Kala
possession they would have considered its caas absolutely hopeless, for the little apes of the
own tribe were as far advanced in two or thr
moons as was this little stranger after twenty-fiv
Tublat, Kala's husband, was sorely vexed, anbut for the female's careful watching would hav
put the child out of the way.
"He will never be a great ape," he argue
"Always will you have to carry him and prote
him. What good will he be to the tribe? Nononly a burden.
"Let us leave him quietly sleeping among th
tall grasses, that you may bear other and strong
apes to guard us in our old age."
"Never, Broken Nose," replied Kala. "If I mu
carry him forever, so be it."
And then Tublat went to Kerchak to urge hi
to use his authority with Kala, and force her
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give up little Tarzan, which was the name the
had given to the tiny Lord Greystoke, and whic
meant "White-Skin."
But when Kerchak spoke to her about it Kathreatened to run away from the tribe if they d
not leave her in peace with the child; and as th
is one of the inalienable rights of the jungle fol
if they be dissatisfied among their own peopthey bothered her no more, for Kala was a fin
clean-limbed young female, and they did n
wish to lose her.
As Tarzan grew he made more rapid stride
so that by the time he was ten years old he wan excellent climber, and on the ground could d
many wonderful things which were beyond th
powers of his little brothers and sisters.
In many ways did he differ from them, an
they often marveled at his superior cunning, b
in strength and size he was deficient; for at t
the great anthropoids were fully grown, some
them towering over six feet in height, while litt
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Tarzan was still but a half-grown boy.
Yet such a boy!
From early childhood he had used his hands
swing from branch to branch after the manner his giant mother, and as he grew older he spe
hour upon hour daily speeding through the tr
tops with his brothers and sisters.
He could spring twenty feet across space at tdizzy heights of the forest top, and grasp wi
unerring precision, and without apparent jar,
limb waving wildly in the path of an approachin
tornado.
He could drop twenty feet at a stretch frolimb to limb in rapid descent to the ground, or h
could gain the utmost pinnacle of the loftie
tropical giant with the ease and swiftness of
squirrel.
Though but ten years old he was fully
strong as the average man of thirty, and far mo
agile than the most practiced athlete ev
becomes. And day by day his strength w
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increasing.
His life among these fierce apes had be
happy; for his recollection held no other life, n
did he know that there existed within thuniverse aught else than his little forest and th
wild jungle animals with which he was familiar
He was nearly ten before he commenced
realize that a great difference existed betwehimself and his fellows. His little body, burne
brown by exposure, suddenly caused hi
feelings of intense shame, for he realized that
was entirely hairless, like some low snake,
other reptile.He attempted to obviate this by plasterin
himself from head to foot with mud, but th
dried and fell off. Besides it felt
uncomfortable that he quickly decided that
preferred the shame to the discomfort.
In the higher land which his tribe frequente
was a little lake, and it was here that Tarzan fir
saw his face in the clear, still waters of its boso
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It was on a sultry day of the dry season that h
and one of his cousins had gone down to th
bank to drink. As they leaned over, both litt
faces were mirrored on the placid pool; the fierand terrible features of the ape beside those
the aristocratic scion of an old English house.
Tarzan was appalled. It had been bad enoug
to be hairless, but to own such a countenance! Hwondered that the other apes could look at him
all.
That tiny slit of a mouth and those puny whi
teeth! How they looked beside the mighty li
and powerful fangs of his more fortunabrothers!
And the little pinched nose of his; so thin w
it that it looked half starved. He turned red as h
compared it with the beautiful broad nostrils
his companion. Such a generous nose! Why
spread half across his face! It certainly must b
fine to be so handsome, thought poor litt
Tarzan.
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But when he saw his own eyes; ah, that w
the final blow-a brown spot, a gray circle an
then blank whiteness! Frightful! not even th
snakes had such hideous eyes as he.So intent was he upon this person
appraisement of his features that he did not he
the parting of the tall grass behind him as a gre
body pushed itself stealthily through the junglnor did his companion, the ape, hear either, f
he was drinking and the noise of his sucking li
and gurgles of satisfaction drowned the qui
approach of the intruder.
Not thirty paces behind the two she croucheSabor, the huge lioness-lashing her ta
Cautiously she moved a great padded pa
forward, noiselessly placing it before she lifte
the next. Thus she advanced; her belly low
almost touching the surface of the ground-a gre
cat preparing to spring upon its prey.
Now she was within ten feet of the tw
unsuspecting little playfellows-carefully sh
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drew her hind feet well up beneath her body, t
great muscles rolling under the beautiful skin.
So low she was crouching now that sh
seemed flattened to the earth except for thupward bend of the glossy back as it gathered f
the spring.
No longer the tail lashed-quiet and straig
behind her it lay.An instant she paused thus, as though turne
to stone, and then, with an awful scream, sh
sprang.
Sabor, the lioness, was a wise hunter. To o
less wise the wild alarm of her fierce cry as shsprang would have seemed a foolish thing, f
could she not more surely have fallen upon h
victims had she but quietly leaped without th
loud shriek?
But Sabor knew well the wondrous quickne
of the jungle folk and their almost unbelievab
powers of hearing. To them the sudden scrapin
of one blade of grass across another was
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effectual a warning as her loudest cry, and Sab
knew that she could not make that mighty lea
without a little noise.
Her wild scream was not a warning. It wvoiced to freeze her poor victims in a paralysis
terror for the tiny fraction of an instant whi
would suffice for her mighty claws to sink in
their soft flesh and hold them beyond hope escape.
So far as the ape was concerned, Sab
reasoned correctly. The little fellow crouche
trembling just an instant, but that instant w
quite long enough to prove his undoing.Not so, however, with Tarzan, the man-chil
His life amidst the dangers of the jungle ha
taught him to meet emergencies with se
confidence, and his higher intelligence result
in a quickness of mental action far beyond th
powers of the apes.
So the scream of Sabor, the liones
galvanized the brain and muscles of little Tarz
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into instant action.
Before him lay the deep waters of the litt
lake, behind him certain death; a cruel dea
beneath tearing claws and rending fangs.Tarzan had always hated water except as
medium for quenching his thirst. He hated
because he connected it with the chill an
discomfort of the torrential rains, and he fearedfor the thunder and lightning and wind whic
accompanied them.
The deep waters of the lake he had been taug
by his wild mother to avoid, and further, had
not seen little Neeta sink beneath its quiet surfaonly a few short weeks before never to return
the tribe?
But of the two evils his quick mind chose th
lesser ere the first note of Sabor's scream ha
scarce broken the quiet of the jungle, and befo
the great beast had covered half her leap Tarza
felt the chill waters close above his head.
He could not swim, and the water was ve
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deep; but still he lost no particle of that se
confidence and resourcefulness which were th
badges of his superior being.
Rapidly he moved his hands and feet in attempt to scramble upward, and, possibly mo
by chance than design, he fell into the stroke th
a dog uses when swimming, so that within a fe
seconds his nose was above water and he founthat he could keep it there by continuing h
strokes, and also make progress through t
water.
He was much surprised and pleased with th
new acquirement which had been so suddenthrust upon him, but he had no time for thinkin
much upon it.
He was now swimming parallel to the ban
and there he saw the cruel beast that would hav
seized him crouching upon the still form of h
little playmate.
The lioness was intently watching Tarza
evidently expecting him to return to shore, b
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this the boy had no intention of doing.
Instead he raised his voice in the call
distress common to his tribe, adding to it th
warning which would prevent would-be rescuefrom running into the clutches of Sabor.
Almost immediately there came an answ
from the distance, and presently forty or fif
great apes swung rapidly and majesticalthrough the trees toward the scene of tragedy.
In the lead was Kala, for she had recognize
the tones of her best beloved, and with her w
the mother of the little ape who lay dead benea
cruel Sabor.Though more powerful and better equipped f
fighting than the apes, the lioness had no desi
to meet these enraged adults, and with a snarl
hatred she sprang quickly into the brush an
disappeared.
Tarzan now swam to shore and clambere
quickly upon dry land. The feeling of freshne
and exhilaration which the cool waters ha
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imparted to him, filled his little being wi
grateful surprise, and ever after he lost n
opportunity to take a daily plunge in lake
stream or ocean when it was possible to do so.For a long time Kala could not accusto
herself to the sight; for though her people cou
swim when forced to it, they did not like to ent
water, and never did so voluntarily.The adventure with the lioness gave Tarz
food for pleasurable memories, for it was suc
affairs which broke the monotony of his dai
life-otherwise but a dull round of searching f
food, eating, and sleeping.The tribe to which he belonged roamed a tra
extending, roughly, twenty-five miles along th
seacoast and some fifty miles inland. This th
traversed almost continually, occasional
remaining for months in one locality; but as the
moved through the trees with great speed th
often covered the territory in a very few days.
Much depended upon food supply, climat
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conditions, and the prevalence of animals of th
more dangerous species; though Kerchak oft
led them on long marches for no other reaso
than that he had tired of remaining in the samplace.
At night they slept where darkness overtoo
them, lying upon the ground, and sometim
covering their heads, and more seldom thebodies, with the great leaves of the elephant's ea
Two or three might lie cuddled in each othe
arms for additional warmth if the night were ch
and thus Tarzan had slept in Kala's arms night
for all these years.That the huge, fierce brute loved this child
another race is beyond question, and he, to
gave to the great, hairy beast all the affection th
would have belonged to his fair young moth
had she lived.
When he was disobedient she cuffed him, it
true, but she was never cruel to him, and w
more often caressing him than chastising him.
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Tublat, her mate, always hated Tarzan, and o
several occasions had come near ending h
youthful career.
Tarzan on his part never lost an opportunity show that he fully reciprocated his foster fathe
sentiments, and whenever he could safely anno
him or make faces at him or hurl insults upo
him from the safety of his mother's arms, or tslender branches of the higher trees, he did so.
His superior intelligence and cunnin
permitted him to invent a thousand diabolic
tricks to add to the burdens of Tublat's life.
Early in his boyhood he had learned to forropes by twisting and tying long grasses togethe
and with these he was forever tripping Tublat
attempting to hang him from some overhangin
branch.
By constant playing and experimenting wi
these he learned to tie rude knots, and mak
sliding nooses; and with these he and t
younger apes amused themselves. What Tarz
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did they tried to do also, but he alone originat
and became proficient.
One day while playing thus Tarzan had throw
his rope at one of his fleeing companionretaining the other end in his grasp. By accide
the noose fell squarely about the running ape
neck, bringing him to a sudden and surprisin
halt.Ah, here was a new game, a fine gam
thought Tarzan, and immediately he attempted
repeat the trick. And thus, by painstaking an
continued practice, he learned the art of roping.
Now, indeed, was the life of Tublat a livinnightmare. In sleep, upon the march, night or da
he never knew when that quiet noose would sl
about his neck and nearly choke the life out
him.
Kala punished, Tublat swore dire vengeanc
and old Kerchak took notice and warned an
threatened; but all to no avail.
Tarzan defied them all, and the thin, stron
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noose continued to settle about Tublat's nec
whenever he least expected it.
The other apes derived unlimited amuseme
from Tublat's discomfiture, for Broken Nose wa disagreeable old fellow, whom no one like
anyway.
In Tarzan's clever little mind many though
revolved, and back of these was his divine powof reason.
If he could catch his fellow apes with his lon
arm of many grasses, why not Sabor, the liones
It was the germ of a thought, which, howeve
was destined to mull around in his conscious ansubconscious mind until it resulted
magnificent achievement.
But that came in later years.
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Chapter VI Jungle B attles
The wanderings of the tribe brought the
often near the closed and silent cabin by the litt
land-locked harbor. To Tarzan this was always
source of never-ending mystery and pleasure.He would peek into the curtained windows, o
climbing upon the roof, peer down the blac
depths of the chimney in vain endeavor to solv
the unknown wonders that lay within tho
strong walls.His child-like imagination pictured wonderf
creatures within, and the very impossibility
forcing entrance added a thousandfold to h
desire to do so
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He could clamber about the roof and window
for hours attempting to discover means of ingre
but to the door he paid little attention, for th
was apparently as solid as the walls.It was in the next visit to the vicinit
following the adventure with old Sabor, that,
he approached the cabin, Tarzan noticed th
from a distance the door appeared to be independent part of the wall in which it was s
and for the first time it occurred to him that th
might prove the means of entrance which had
long eluded him.
He was alone, as was often the case when hvisited the cabin, for the apes had no love for
the story of the thunder-stick having lost nothin
in the telling during these ten years had qui
surrounded the white man's deserted abode wi
an atmosphere of weirdness and terror for t
simians.
The story of his own connection with the cab
had never been told him.
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The language of the apes had so few wor
that they could talk but little of what they ha
seen in the cabin, having no words to accurate
describe either the strange people or thebelongings, and so, long before Tarzan was o
enough to understand, the subject had bee
forgotten by the tribe.
Only in a dim, vague way had Kala explainto him that his father had been a strange whi
ape, but he did not know that Kala was not h
own mother.
On this day, then, he went directly to the do
and spent hours examining it and fussing withe hinges, the knob and the latch.
Finally he stumbled upon the rig
combination, and the door swung creaking
open before his astonished eyes.
For some minutes he did not dare ventu
within, but finally, as his eyes becam
accustomed to the dim light of the interior h
slowly and cautiously entered.
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In the middle of the floor lay a skeleton, eve
vestige of flesh gone from the bones to whi
still clung the mildewed and moldered remnan
of what had once been clothing. Upon the belay a similar gruesome thing, but smaller, whi
in a tiny cradle near-by was a third, a wee mite
a skeleton.
To none of these evidences of a fearful tragedof a long dead day did little Tarzan give b
passing heed. His wild jungle life had inured hi
to the sight of dead and dying animals, and ha
he known that he was looking upon the remai
of his own father and mother he would have beeno more greatly moved.
The furnishings and other contents of the roo
it was which riveted his attention. He examine
many things minutely-strange tools and weapon
books, paper, clothing-what little had withstoo
the ravages of time in the humid atmosphere
the jungle coast.
He opened chests and cupboards, such as d
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not baffle his small experience, and in these h
found the contents much better preserved.
Among other things he found a sharp huntin
knife, on the keen blade of which he immediateproceeded to cut his finger. Undaunted h
continued his experiments, finding that he cou
hack and hew splinters of wood from the tab
and chairs with this new toy.For a long time this amused him, but final
tiring he continued his explorations. In
cupboard filled with books he came across on
with brightly colored pictures-it was a child
illustrated alphabet- A is for Archer Who shoowith a bow.
B is for Boy,
His first name is Joe.
The pictures interested him greatly.
There were many apes with faces similar to h
own, and further over in the book he foun
under "M," some little monkeys such as he sa
daily flitting through the trees of his primev
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forest. But nowhere was pictured any of his ow
people; in all the book was none that resemble
Kerchak, or Tublat, or Kala.
At first he tried to pick the little figures frothe leaves, but he soon saw that they were n
real, though he knew not what they might be, n
had he any words to describe them.
The boats, and trains, and cows and horswere quite meaningless to him, but not quite
baffling as the odd little figures which appeare
beneath and between the colored pictures-som
strange kind of bug he thought they might be, f
many of them had legs though nowhere could hfind one with eyes and a mouth. It was his fir
introduction to the letters of the alphabet, and
was over ten years old.
Of course he had never before seen print,
ever had spoken with any living thing which ha
the remotest idea that such a thing as a writte
language existed, nor ever had he seen anyon
reading.
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So what wonder that the little boy was quite
a loss to guess the meaning of these stran
figures.
Near the middle of the book he found his oenemy, Sabor, the lioness, and further on, coile
Histah, the snake.
Oh, it was most engrossing! Never before
all his ten years had he enjoyed anything much. So absorbed was he that he did not no
the approaching dusk, until it was quite upon hi
and the figures were blurred.
He put the book back in the cupboard an
closed the door, for he did not wish anyone elto find and destroy his treasure, and as he we
out into the gathering darkness he closed th
great door of the cabin behind him as it had bee
before he discovered the secret of its lock, b
before he left he had noticed the hunting kni
lying where he had thrown it upon the floor, a
this he picked up and took with him to show
his fellows.
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He had taken scarce a dozen steps toward th
jungle when a great form rose up before hi
from the shadows of a low bush. At first
thought it was one of his own people but another instant he realized that it was Bolgan
the huge gorilla.
So close was he that there was no chance f
flight and little Tarzan knew that he must stanand fight for his life; for these great beasts we
the deadly enemies of his tribe, and neither on
nor the other ever asked or gave quarter.
Had Tarzan been a full-grown bull ape of t
species of his tribe he would have been mothan a match for the gorilla, but being only
little English boy, though enormously muscul
for such, he stood no chance against his cru
antagonist. In his veins, though, flowed the bloo
of the best of a race of mighty fighters, and bac
of this was the training of his short lifetim
among the fierce brutes of the jungle.
He knew no fear, as we know it; his little hea
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beat the faster but from the excitement an
exhilaration of adventure. Had the opportuni
presented itself he would have escaped, b
solely because his judgment told him he was nmatch for the great thing which confronted him
And since reason showed him that successf
flight was impossible he met the gorilla square
and bravely without a tremor of a single musclor any sign of panic.
In fact he met the brute midway in its charg
striking its huge body with his closed fists and
futilely as he had been a fly attacking an elepha
But in one hand he still clutched the knife he hafound in the cabin of his father, and as the brut
striking and biting, closed upon him the bo
accidentally turned the point toward the hai
breast.
As the knife sank deep into its body the goril
shrieked in pain and rage.
But the boy had learned in that brief second
use for his sharp and shining toy, so that, as t
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tearing, striking beast dragged him to earth
plunged the blade repeatedly and to the hilt in
its breast.
The gorilla, fighting after the manner of kind, struck terrific blows with its open han
and tore the flesh at the boy's throat and che
with its mighty tusks.
For a moment they rolled upon the ground the fierce frenzy of combat. More and mo
weakly the torn and bleeding arm struck hom
with the long sharp blade, then the little figu
stiffened with a spasmodic jerk, and Tarzan, th
young Lord Greystoke, rolled unconscious upothe dead and decaying vegetation which carpet
his jungle home.
A mile back in the forest the tribe had hea
the fierce challenge of the gorilla, and, as was h
custom when any danger threatened, Kerch
called his people together, partly for mutu
protection against a common enemy, since th
gorilla might be but one of a party of several, an
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also to see that all members of the tribe we
accounted for.
It was soon discovered that Tarzan w
missing, and Tublat was strongly opposed sending assistance. Kerchak himself had n
liking for the strange little waif, so he listened
Tublat, and, finally, with a shrug of his shoulde
turned back to the pile of leaves on which he hmade his bed.
But Kala was of a different mind; in fact, s
had not waited but to learn that Tarzan w
absent ere she was fairly flying through th
matted branches toward the point from which thcries of the gorilla were still plainly audible.
Darkness had now fallen, and an early moo
was sending its faint light to cast strang
grotesque shadows among the dense foliage
the forest.
Here and there the brilliant rays penetrated
earth, but for the most part they only served
accentuate the Stygian blackness of the jungle
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depths.
Like some huge phantom, Kala swun
noiselessly from tree to tree; now running nimb
along a great branch, now swinging througspace at the end of another, only to grasp that
a farther tree in her rapid progress toward t
scene of the tragedy her knowledge of jungle li
told her was being enacted a short distanbefore her.
The cries of the gorilla proclaimed that it w
in mortal combat with some other denizen of th
fierce wood. Suddenly these cries ceased, and th
silence of death reigned throughout the jungle.Kala could not understand, for the voice
Bolgani had at last been raised in the agony
suffering and death, but no sound had come
her by which she possibly could determine th
nature of his antagonist.
That her little Tarzan could destroy a gre
bull gorilla she knew to be improbable, and s
as she neared the spot from which the sounds
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the struggle had come, she moved more wari
and at last slowly and with extreme caution sh
traversed the lowest branches, peering eager
into the moon-splashed blackness for a sign the combatants.
Presently she came upon them, lying in a litt
open space full under the brilliant light of th
moon-little Tarzan's torn and bloody form, anbeside it a great bull gorilla, stone dead.
With a low cry Kala rushed to Tarzan's sid
and gathering the poor, blood-covered body
her breast, listened for a sign of life. Faintly s
heard it-the weak beating of the little heart.Tenderly she bore him back through the ink
jungle to where the tribe lay, and for many da
and nights she sat guard beside him, bringin
him food and water, and brushing the flies an
other insects from his cruel wounds.
Of medicine or surgery the poor thing kne
nothing. She could but lick the wounds, and th
she kept them cleansed, that healing nature mig
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the more quickly do her work.
At first Tarzan would eat nothing, but rolle
and tossed in a wild delirium of fever. All h
craved was water, and this she brought him in tonly way she could, bearing it in her own mout
No human mother could have shown mo
unselfish and sacrificing devotion than did th
poor, wild brute for the little orphaned wawhom fate had thrown into her keeping.
At last the fever abated and the bo
commenced to mend. No word of complai
passed his tight set lips, though the pain of h
wounds was excruciating.A portion of his chest was laid bare to the rib
three of which had been broken by the migh
blows of the gorilla. One arm was nearly severe
by the giant fangs, and a great piece had bee
torn from his neck, exposing his jugular vei
which the cruel jaws had missed but by a mirac
With the stoicism of the brutes who had rais
him he endured his suffering quietly, preferrin
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to crawl away from the others and lie huddled
some clump of tall grasses rather than to sho
his misery before their eyes.
Kala, alone, he was glad to have with him, bnow that he was better she was gone longer at
time, in search of food; for the devoted anim
had scarcely eaten enough to support her ow
life while Tarzan had been so low, and was consequence, reduced to a mere shadow of h
former self.
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Chapter VII The L ight of K nowledge
After what seemed an eternity to the litt
sufferer he was able to walk once more, and fro
then on his recovery was so rapid that in anoth
month he was as strong and active as ever.During his convalescence he had gone over
his mind many times the battle with the gorill
and his first thought was to recover th
wonderful little weapon which had transforme
him from a hopelessly outclassed weakling to tsuperior of the mighty terror of the jungle.
Also, he was anxious to return to the cabin an
continue his investigations of its wondro
contents
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So, early one morning, he set forth alone upo
his quest. After a little search he located th
clean-picked bones of his late adversary, an
close by, partly buried beneath the fallen leavehe found the knife, now red with rust from
exposure to the dampness of the ground and fro
the dried blood of the gorilla.
He did not like the change in its former brigand gleaming surface; but it was still
formidable weapon, and one which he meant
use to advantage whenever the opportuni
presented itself. He had in mind that no mo
would he run from the wanton attacks of oTublat.
In another moment he was at the cabin, an
after a short time had again thrown the latch an
entered. His first concern was to learn th
mechanism of the lock, and this he did b
examining it closely while the door was open,
that he could learn precisely what caused it
hold the door, and by what means it released
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his touch.
He found that he could close and lock the do
from within, and this he did so that there wou
be no chance of his being molested while at hinvestigation.
He commenced a systematic search of th
cabin; but his attention was soon riveted by th
books which seemed to exert a strange anpowerful influence over him, so that he cou
scarce attend to aught else for the lure of t
wondrous puzzle which their purpose present
to him.
Among the other books were a primer, somchild's readers, numerous picture books, and
great dictionary. All of these he examined, b
the pictures caught his fancy most, though th
strange little bugs which covered the pag
where there were no pictures excited his wond
and deepest thought.
Squatting upon his haunches on the table to
in the cabin his father had built-his smoot
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brown, naked little body bent over the boo
which rested in his strong slender hands, and h
great shock of long, black hair falling about h
well-shaped head and bright, intelligent eyeTarzan of the apes, little primitive ma
presented a picture filled, at once, with path
and with promise-an allegorical figure of th
primordial groping through the black night ignorance toward the light of learning.
His little face was tense in study, for he h
partially grasped, in a hazy, nebulous way, th
rudiments of a thought which was destined
prove the key and the solution to the puzzlinproblem of the strange little bugs.
In his hands was a primer opened at a pictu
of a little ape similar to himself, but covere
except for hands and face, with strange, colore
fur, for such he thought the jacket and trousers
be.
Beneath the picture were three little bugs -
BOY.
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And now he had discovered in the text upo
the page that these three were repeated man
times in the same sequence.
Another fact he learned-that there wecomparatively few individual bugs; but the
were repeated many times, occasionally alon
but more often in company with others.
Slowly he turned the pages, scanning tpictures and the text for a repetition of t
combination B-O-Y. Presently he found
beneath a picture of another little ape and
strange animal which went upon four legs lik
the jackal and resembled him not a little. Beneathis picture the bugs appeared as:
A BOY AND A DOG
There they were, the three little bugs whic
always accompanied the little ape.
And so he progressed very, very slowly, for
was a hard and laborious task which he had s
himself without knowing it-a task which mig
seem to you or me impossible-learning to re
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without having the slightest knowledge of lette
or written language, or the faintest idea that suc
things existed.
He did not accomplish it in a day, or in a weor in a month, or in a year; but slowly, ve
slowly, he learned after he had grasped t
possibilities which lay in those little bugs, so th
by the time he was fifteen he knew the variocombinations of letters which stood for eve
pictured figure in the little primer and in one
two of the picture books.
Of the meaning and use of the articles an
conjunctions, verbs and adverbs and pronouns hhad but the faintest conception.
One day when he was about twelve he found
number of lead pencils in a hitherto undiscovere
drawer beneath the table, and in scratching upo
the table top with one of them he was delight
to discover the black line it left behind it.
He worked so assiduously with this new to
that the table top was soon a mass of scraw
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loops and irregular lines and his pencil-poi
worn down to the wood. Then he took anoth
pencil, but this time he had a definite object
view.He would attempt to reproduce some of th
little bugs that scrambled over the pages of h
books.
It was a difficult task, for he held the pencil one would grasp the hilt of a dagger, which do
not add greatly to ease in writing or to th
legibility of the results.
But he persevered for months, at such times
he was able to come to the cabin, until at last brepeated experimenting he found a position
which to hold the pencil that best permitted hi
to guide and control it, so that at last he cou
roughly reproduce any of the little bugs.
Thus he made a beginning of writing.
Copying the bugs taught him another thin
their number; and though he could not count
we understand it, yet he had an idea of quantit
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the base of his calculations being the number
fingers upon one of his hands.
His search through the various boo
convinced him that he had discovered all thdifferent kinds of bugs most often repeated
combination, and these he arranged in prop
order with great ease because of the frequen
with which he had perused the fascinatinalphabet picture book.
His education progressed; but his greate
finds were in the inexhaustible storehouse of th
huge illustrated dictionary, for he learned mo
through the medium of pictures than text, evafter he had grasped the significance of the bug
When he discovered the arrangement of wor
in alphabetical order he delighted in searchin
for and finding the combinations with which h
was familiar, and the words which followed the
their definitions, led him still further into th
mazes of erudition.
By the time he was seventeen he had learne
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to read the simple, child's primer and had ful
realized the true and wonderful purpose of t
little bugs.
No longer did he feel shame for his hairlebody or his human features, for now his reaso
told him that he was of a different race from h
wild and hairy companions. He was a M-A-N
they were A-P-E-S, and the little apes whicscurried through the forest top were M-O-N-K
E-Y-S. He knew, too, that old Sabor was a L-
O-N-E-S-S, and Histah a S-N-A-K-E, and Tant
an E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T. And so he learned to rea
From then on his progress was rapid. With thelp of the great dictionary and the activ
intelligence of a healthy mind endowed b
inheritance with more than ordinary reasonin
powers he shrewdly guessed at much which h
could not really understand, and more often th
not his guesses were close to the mark of truth.
There were many breaks in his educatio
caused by the migratory habits of his tribe, b
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even when removed from his books his activ
brain continued to search out the mysteries of h
fascinating avocation.
Pieces of bark and flat leaves and even smoostretches of bare earth provided him with cop
books whereon to scratch with the point of h
hunting knife the lessons he was learning.
Nor did he neglect the sterner duties of liwhile following the bent of his inclinatio
toward the solving of the mystery of his library.
He practiced with his rope and played with h
sharp knife, which he had learned to keep ke
by whetting upon flat stones.The tribe had grown larger since Tarzan ha
come among them, for under the leadership
Kerchak they had been able to frighten the oth
tribes from their part of the jungle so that th
had plenty to eat and little or no loss fro
predatory incursions of neighbors.
Hence the younger males as they became adu
found it more comfortable to take mates fro
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their own tribe, or if they captured one of anoth
tribe to bring her back to Kerchak's band and liv
in amity with him rather than attempt to set u
new establishments of their own, or fight withe redoubtable Kerchak for supremacy at home
Occasionally one more ferocious than h
fellows would attempt this latter alternative, b
none had come yet who could wrest the palm victory from the fierce and brutal ape.
Tarzan held a peculiar position in the trib
They seemed to consider him one of them an
yet in some way different. The older males eith
ignored him entirely or else hated him vindictively that but for his wondrous agility an
speed and the fierce protection of the huge Ka
he would have been dispatched at an early age.
Tublat was his most consistent enemy, but
was through Tublat that, when he was abo
thirteen, the persecution of his enemies sudden
ceased and he was left severely alone, except o
the occasions when one of them ran amuck in th
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throes of one of those strange, wild fits of insan
rage which attacks the males of many of th
fiercer animals of the jungle. Then none was sa
On the day that Tarzan established his right respect, the tribe was gathered about a sma
natural amphitheater which the jungle had le
free from its entangling vines and creepers in
hollow among some low hills.The open space was almost circular in shap
Upon every hand rose the mighty giants of t
untouched forest, with the matted undergrow
banked so closely between the huge trunks th
the only opening into the little, level arena wthrough the upper branches of the trees.
Here, safe from interruption, the tribe ofte
gathered. In the center of the amphitheater w
one of those strange earthen drums which t
anthropoids build for the queer rites the soun
of which men have heard in the fastnesses of th
jungle, but which none has ever witnessed.
Many travelers have seen the drums of th
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great apes, and some have heard the sounds
their beating and the noise of the wild, wei
revelry of these first lords of the jungle, b
Tarzan, Lord Greystoke, is, doubtless, the onhuman being who ever joined in the fierce, ma
intoxicating revel of the Dum-Dum.
From this primitive function has arise
unquestionably, all the forms and ceremonials modern church and state, for through all th
countless ages, back beyond the uttermo
ramparts of a dawning humanity our fierce, hai
forebears danced out the rites of the Dum-Du
to the sound of their earthen drums, beneath thbright light of a tropical moon in the depth of
mighty jungle which stands unchanged today
it stood on that long forgotten night in the dim
unthinkable vistas of the long dead past when o
first shaggy ancestor swung from a swayin
bough and dropped lightly upon the soft turf
the first meeting place.
On the day that Tarzan won his emancipatio
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from the persecution that had followed hi
remorselessly for twelve of his thirteen years
life, the tribe, now a full hundred strong, troop
silently through the lower terrace of the jungtrees and dropped noiselessly upon the floor
the amphitheater.
The rites of the Dum-Dum marked importa
events in the life of the tribe-a victory, thcapture of a prisoner, the killing of some larg
fierce denizen of the jungle, the death
accession of a king, and were conducted with s
ceremonialism.
Today it was the killing of a giant ape,member of another tribe, and as the people
Kerchak entered the arena two mighty bulls we
seen bearing the body of the vanquished betwe
them.
They laid their burden before the earthen dru
and then squatted there beside it as guards, whi
the other members of the community curle
themselves in grassy nooks to sleep until th
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rising moon should give the signal for th
commencement of their savage orgy.
For hours absolute quiet reigned in the litt
clearing, except as it was broken by thdiscordant notes of brilliantly feathered parro
or the screeching and twittering of the thousan
jungle birds flitting ceaselessly amongst the viv
orchids and flamboyant blossoms whifestooned the myriad, moss-covered branches
the forest kings.
At length as darkness settled upon the jung
the apes commenced to bestir themselves, an
soon they formed a great circle about the earthedrum. The females and young squatted in a th
line at the outer periphery of the circle, while ju
in front of them ranged the adult males. Befo
the drum sat three old females, each armed wi
a knotted branch fifteen or eighteen inches
length.
Slowly and softly they began tapping upon th
resounding surface of the drum as the first fai
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rays of the ascending moon silvered th
encircling tree tops.
As the light in the amphitheater increased th
females augmented the frequency and force their blows until presently a wild, rhythmic d
pervaded the great jungle for miles in eve
direction. Huge, fierce brutes stopped in the
hunting, with up-pricked ears and raised headto listen to the dull booming that betokened t
Dum-Dum of the apes.
Occasionally one would raise his shrill screa
or thunderous roar in answering challenge to t
savage din of the anthropoids, but none camnear to investigate or attack, for the great ape
assembled in all the power of their number
filled the breasts of their jungle neighbors wi
deep respect.
As the din of the drum rose to almo
deafening volume Kerchak sprang into the op
space between the squatting males and th
drummers.
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Standing erect he threw his head far back an
looking full into the eye of the rising moon h
beat upon his breast with his great hairy paw
and emitted his fearful roaring shriek.One-twice-thrice that terrifying cry rang o
across the teeming solitude of that unspeakab
quick, yet unthinkably dead, world.
Then, crouching, Kerchak slunk noiselessaround the open circle, veering far away from th
dead body lying before the altar-drum, but, as
passed, keeping his little, fierce, wicked, red ey
upon the corpse.
Another male then sprang into the arena, anrepeating the horrid cries of his king, follow
stealthily in his wake. Another and anoth
followed in quick succession until the jung
reverberated with the now almost ceaseless not
of their bloodthirsty screams.
It was the challenge and the hunt.
When all the adult males had joined in the th
line of circling dancers the attack commenced.
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Kerchak, seizing a huge club from the pi
which lay at hand for the purpose, rushe
furiously upon the dead ape, dealing the corpse
terrific blow, at the same time emitting thgrowls and snarls of combat. The din of the dru
was now increased, as well as the frequency
the blows, and the warriors, as each approache
the victim of the hunt and delivered his bludgeoblow, joined in the mad whirl of the Death Dan
Tarzan was one of the wild, leaping horde. H
brown, sweat-streaked, muscular bod
glistening in the moonlight, shone supple an
graceful among the uncouth, awkward, haibrutes about him.
None was more stealthy in the mimic hun
none more ferocious than he in the wild feroci
of the attack, none who leaped so high into th
air in the Dance of Death.
As the noise and rapidity of the drumbea
increased the dancers apparently becam
intoxicated with the wild rhythm and the sava
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yells. Their leaps and bounds increased, the
bared fangs dripped saliva, and their lips an
breasts were flecked with foam.
For half an hour the weird dance went on, unat a sign from Kerchak, the noise of the drum
ceased, the female drummers scamperin
hurriedly through the line of dancers toward t
outer rim of squatting spectators. Then, as onthe males rushed headlong upon the thing whic
their terrific blows had reduced to a mass
hairy pulp.
Flesh seldom came to their jaws in satisfyin
quantities, so a fit finale to their wild revel wastaste of fresh killed meat, and it was to th
purpose of devouring their late enemy that th
now turned their attention.
Great fangs sunk into the carcass tearing aw
huge hunks, the mightiest of the apes obtainin
the choicest morsels, while the weaker circle
the outer edge of the fighting, snarling pac
awaiting their chance to dodge in and snatch
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dropped tidbit or filch a remaining bone befo
all was gone.
Tarzan, more than the apes, craved and neede
flesh. Descended from a race of meat eaternever in his life, he thought, had he on
satisfied his appetite for animal food; and so no
his agile little body wormed its way far into th
mass of struggling, rending apes in an endeavto obtain a share which his strength would ha
been unequal to the task of winning for him.
At his side hung the hunting knife of h
unknown father in a sheath self-fashioned
copy of one he had seen among the pictures his treasure-books.
At last he reached the fast disappearing fea
and with his sharp knife slashed off a mo
generous portion than he had hoped for, an enti
hairy forearm, where it protruded from benea
the feet of the mighty Kerchak, who was
busily engaged in perpetuating the roy
prerogative of gluttony that he failed to note t
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act of LESE-MAJESTE.
So little Tarzan wriggled out from beneath th
struggling mass, clutching his grisly prize clo
to his breast.Among those circling futilely the outskirts
the banqueters was old Tublat. He had bee
among the first at the feast, but had retreat
with a goodly share to eat in quiet, and was noforcing his way back for more.
So it was that he spied Tarzan as the bo
emerged from the clawing, pushing throng wi
that hairy forearm hugged firmly to his body.
Tublat's little, close-set, bloodshot, pig-eyshot wicked gleams of hate as they fell upon t
object of his loathing. In them, too, was greed f
the toothsome dainty the boy carried.
But Tarzan saw his arch enemy as quickl
and divining what the great beast would do h
leaped nimbly away toward the females and th
young, hoping to hide himself among them
Tublat, however, was close upon his heels,
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that he had no opportunity to seek a place
concealment, but saw that he would be put to
to escape at all.
Swiftly he sped toward the surrounding treand with an agile bound gained a lower lim
with one hand, and then, transferring his burd
to his teeth, he climbed rapidly upward, close
followed by Tublat.Up, up he went to the waving pinnacle of
lofty monarch of the forest where his heav
pursuer dared not follow him. There he perche
hurling taunts and insults at the raging, foamin
beast fifty feet below him.And then Tublat went mad.
With horrifying screams and roars he rushe
to the ground, among the females and youn
sinking his great fangs into a dozen tiny nec
and tearing great pieces from the backs an
breasts of the females who fell into his clutches
In the brilliant moonlight Tarzan witnessed th
whole mad carnival of rage. He saw the femal
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and the young scamper to the safety of the tree
Then the great bulls in the center of the arena fe
the mighty fangs of their demented fellow, an
with one accord they melted into the blashadows of the overhanging forest.
There was but one in the amphitheater besid
Tublat, a belated female running swiftly towa
the tree where Tarzan perched, and close behinher came the awful Tublat.
It was Kala, and as quickly as Tarzan saw th
Tublat was gaining on her he dropped with th
rapidity of a falling stone, from branch to branc
toward his foster mother.Now she was beneath the overhanging lim
and close above her crouched Tarzan, waiting th
outcome of the race.
She leaped into the air grasping a low-hangin
branch, but almost over the head of Tublat,
nearly had he distanced her. She should ha
been safe now but there was a rending, tearin
sound, the branch broke and precipitated her fu
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upon the head of Tublat, knocking him to th
ground.
Both were up in an instant, but as quick
they had been Tarzan had been quicker, so ththe infuriated bull found himself facing the ma
child who stood between him and Kala.
Nothing could have suited the fierce bea
better, and with a roar of triumph he leaped upothe little Lord Greystoke. But his fangs nev
closed in that nut brown flesh.
A muscular hand shot out and grasped th
hairy throat, and another plunged a keen huntin
knife a dozen times into the broad breast. Liklightning the blows fell, and only ceased wh
Tarzan felt the limp form crumple beneath him.
As the body rolled to the ground Tarzan of th
Apes placed his foot upon the neck of h
lifelong enemy and, raising his eyes to the fu
moon, threw back his fierce young head an
voiced the wild and terrible cry of his people.
One by one the tribe swung down from the
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arboreal retreats and formed a circle abo
Tarzan and his vanquished foe. When they ha
all come Tarzan turned toward them.
"I am Tarzan," he cried. "I am a great killeLet all respect Tarzan of the Apes and Kala, h
mother. There be none among you as mighty
Tarzan. Let his enemies beware."
Looking full into the wicked, red eyes Kerchak, the young Lord Greystoke beat upo
his mighty breast and screamed out once mo
his shrill cry of defiance.
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Chapter VIII The T ree-top H unter
The morning after the Dum-Dum the trib
started slowly back through the forest toward th
coast.
The body of Tublat lay where it had fallen, fthe people of Kerchak do not eat their own dead
The march was but a leisurely search for foo
Cabbage palm and gray plum, pisang an
scitamine they found in abundance, with wi
pineapple, and occasionally small mammabirds, eggs, reptiles, and insects. The nuts th
cracked between their powerful jaws, or, if to
hard, broke by pounding between stones.
Once old Sabor crossing their path sent the
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scurrying to the safety of the higher branches, f
if she respected their number and their sha
fangs, they on their part held her cruel an
mighty ferocity in equal esteem.Upon a low-hanging branch sat Tarz
directly above the majestic, supple body as
forged silently through the thick jungle. H
hurled a pineapple at the ancient enemy of hpeople. The great beast stopped and, turnin
eyed the taunting figure above her.
With an angry lash of her tail she bared h
yellow fangs, curling her great lips in a hideo
snarl that wrinkled her bristling snout in serriridges and closed her wicked eyes to two narro
slits of rage and hatred.
With back-laid ears she looked straight in
the eyes of Tarzan of the Apes and sounded h
fierce, shrill challenge. And from the safety
his overhanging limb the ape-child sent back t
fearsome answer of his kind.
For a moment the two eyed each other
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silence, and then the great cat turned into th
jungle, which swallowed her as the ocean engul
a tossed pebble.
But into the mind of Tarzan a great plasprang. He had killed the fierce Tublat, so was h
not therefore a mighty fighter? Now would h
track down the crafty Sabor and slay her likewi
He would be a mighty hunter, also.At the bottom of his little English heart be
the great desire to cover his nakedness wi
CLOTHES for he had learned from his pictu
books that all MEN were so covered, whi
MONKEYS and APES and every other livinthing went naked.
CLOTHES therefore, must be truly a badge
greatness; the insignia of the superiority of MA
over all other animals, for surely there could b
no other reason for wearing the hideous things.
Many moons ago, when he had been mu
smaller, he had desired the skin of Sabor, t
lioness, or Numa, the lion, or Sheeta, the leopa
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to cover his hairless body that he might no long
resemble hideous Histah, the snake; but now h
was proud of his sleek skin for it betokened h
descent from a mighty race, and the conflictindesires to go naked in prideful proof of h
ancestry, or to conform to the customs of his ow
kind and wear hideous and uncomfortab
apparel found first one and then the other in thascendency.
As the tribe continued their slow way throu
the forest after the passing of Sabor, Tarzan
head was filled with his great scheme for slayin
his enemy, and for many days thereafter hthought of little else.
On this day, however, he presently had oth
and more immediate interests to attract h
attention.
Suddenly it became as midnight; the noises
the jungle ceased; the trees stood motionless
though in paralyzed expectancy of some gre
and imminent disaster. All nature waited-but n
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for long.
Faintly, from a distance, came a low, s
moaning. Nearer and nearer it approache
mounting louder and louder in volume.The great trees bent in unison as thoug
pressed earthward by a mighty hand. Farther an
farther toward the ground they inclined, and st
there was no sound save the deep and awesommoaning of the wind.
Then, suddenly, the jungle giants whippe
back, lashing their mighty tops in angry an
deafening protest. A vivid and blinding lig
flashed from the whirling, inky clouds abovThe deep cannonade of roaring thunder belch
forth its fearsome challenge. The deluge came-a
hell broke loose upon the jungle.
The tribe shivering from the cold rain, huddl
at the bases of great trees. The lightning, dartin
and flashing through the blackness, show
wildly waving branches, whipping streamers an
bending trunks.
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Now and again some ancient patriarch of th
woods, rent by a flashing bolt, would crash in
thousand pieces among the surrounding tree
carrying down numberless branches and mansmaller neighbors to add to the tangled confusio
of the tropical jungle.
Branches, great and small, torn away by t
ferocity of the tornado, hurtled through thwildly waving verdure, carrying death an
destruction to countless unhappy denizens of th
thickly peopled world below.
For hours the fury of the storm continue
without surcease, and still the tribe huddled cloin shivering fear. In constant danger from fallin
trunks and branches and paralyzed by the viv
flashing of lightning and the bellowing
thunder they crouched in pitiful misery until th
storm passed.
The end was as sudden as the beginning. Th
wind ceased, the sun shone forth-nature smile
once more.
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The dripping leaves and branches, and th
moist petals of gorgeous flowers glistened in th
splendor of the returning day. And, so-as Natu
forgot, her children forgot also. Busy life weon as it had been before the darkness and th
fright.
But to Tarzan a dawning light had come
explain the mystery of CLOTHES. How snug hwould have been beneath the heavy coat of Sab
And so was added a further incentive to tadventure.
For several months the tribe hovered near th
beach where stood Tarzan's cabin, and his studitook up the greater portion of his time, b
always when journeying through the forest h
kept his rope in readiness, and many were t
smaller animals that fell into the snare of th
quick thrown noose.
Once it fell about the short neck of Horta, th
boar, and his mad lunge for freedom topple
Tarzan from the overhanging limb where he ha
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lain in wait and from whence he had launche
his sinuous coil.
The mighty tusker turned at the sound of h
falling body, and, seeing only the easy prey ofyoung ape, he lowered his head and charge
madly at the surprised youth.
Tarzan, happily, was uninjured by the fa
alighting catlike upon all fours far outspread take up the shock. He was on his feet in
instant and, leaping with the agility of t
monkey he was, he gained the safety of a lo
limb as Horta, the boar, rushed futilely beneath
Thus it was that Tarzan learned by experienthe limitations as well as the possibilities of h
strange weapon.
He lost a long rope on this occasion, but h
knew that had it been Sabor who had th
dragged him from his perch the outcome mig
have been very different, for he would have lo
his life, doubtless, into the bargain.
It took him many days to braid a new rope, b
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when, finally, it was done he went for
purposely to hunt, and lie in wait among th
dense foliage of a great branch right above th
well-beaten trail that led to water.Several small animals passed unharm
beneath him. He did not want such insignifica
game. It would take a strong animal to test th
efficacy of his new scheme.At last came she whom Tarzan sought, wi
lithe sinews rolling beneath shimmering hide; f
and glossy came Sabor, the lioness.
Her great padded feet fell soft and noiseless o
the narrow trail. Her head was high in ever aleattention; her long tail moved slowly in sinuo
and graceful undulations.
Nearer and nearer she came to where Tarz
of the Apes crouched upon his limb, the coils
his long rope poised ready in his hand.
Like a thing of bronze, motionless as death, s
Tarzan. Sabor passed beneath. One stride beyon
she took-a second, a third, and then the silent co
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shot out above her.
For an instant the spreading noose hung abov
her head like a great snake, and then, as sh
looked upward to detect the origin of thswishing sound of the rope, it settled about h
neck. With a quick jerk Tarzan snapped th
noose tight about the glossy throat, and then h
dropped the rope and clung to his support wiboth hands.
Sabor was trapped.
With a bound the startled beast turned into t
jungle, but Tarzan was not to lose another ro
through the same cause as the first. He hlearned from experience. The lioness had tak
but half her second bound when she felt the ro
tighten about her neck; her body turne
completely over in the air and she fell with
heavy crash upon her back. Tarzan had fastene
the end of the rope securely to the trunk of th
great tree on which he sat.
Thus far his plan had worked to perfection, b
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when he grasped the rope, bracing himse
behind a crotch of two mighty branches,
found that dragging the mighty, strugglin
clawing, biting, screaming mass of iron-musclefury up to the tree and hanging her was a ve
different proposition.
The weight of old Sabor was immense, an
when she braced her huge paws nothing less thTantor, the elephant, himself, could have budge
her.
The lioness was now back in the path whe
she could see the author of the indignity whic
had been placed upon her. Screaming with rashe suddenly charged, leaping high into the a
toward Tarzan, but when her huge body struc
the limb on which Tarzan had been, Tarzan w
no longer there.
Instead he perched lightly upon a small
branch twenty feet above the raging captive. F
a moment Sabor hung half across the branc
while Tarzan mocked, and hurled twigs an
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branches at her unprotected face.
Presently the beast dropped to the earth aga
and Tarzan came quickly to seize the rope, b
Sabor had now found that it was only a slendcord that held her, and grasping it in her hu
jaws severed it before Tarzan could tighten t
strangling noose a second time.
Tarzan was much hurt. His well-laid plan hacome to naught, so he sat there screaming at th
roaring creature beneath him and makin
mocking grimaces at it.
Sabor paced back and forth beneath the tr
for hours; four times she crouched and sprang the dancing sprite above her, but might as we
have clutched at the illusive wind that murmure
through the tree tops.
At last Tarzan tired of the sport, and with
parting roar of challenge and a well-aimed rip
fruit that spread soft and sticky over the snarlin
face of his enemy, he swung rapidly through th
trees, a hundred feet above the ground, and in
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short time was among the members of his tribe.
Here he recounted the details of his adventur
with swelling chest and so considerable swagg
that he quite impressed even his bitterest enemiwhile Kala fairly danced for joy and pride.
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Chapter IX M an and M an
Tarzan of the Apes lived on in his wil
jungle existence with little change for seve
years, only that he grew stronger and wiser, an
learned from his books more and more of tstrange worlds which lay somewhere outside h
primeval forest.
To him life was never monotonous or stal
There was always Pisah, the fish, to be caught
the many streams and the little lakes, and Sabowith her ferocious cousins to keep one ever o
the alert and give zest to every instant that on
spent upon the ground.
Often they hunted him and more often h
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hunted them, but though they never quite reach
him with those cruel, sharp claws of theirs, y
there were times when one could scarce hav
passed a thick leaf between their talons and hsmooth hide.
Quick was Sabor, the lioness, and quick we
Numa and Sheeta, but Tarzan of the Apes w
lightning.With Tantor, the elephant, he made friend
How? Ask not. But this is known to the denize
of the jungle, that on many moonlight nigh
Tarzan of the Apes and Tantor, the elephan
walked together, and where the way was cleTarzan rode, perched high upon Tantor's migh
back.
Many days during these years he spent in th
cabin of his father, where still lay, untouched, t
bones of his parents and the skeleton of Kala
baby. At eighteen he read fluently an
understood nearly all he read in the many an
varied volumes on the shelves.
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Also could he write, with printed letter
rapidly and plainly, but script he had n
mastered, for though there were several cop
books among his treasure, there was so littwritten English in the cabin that he saw no u
for bothering with this other form of writin
though he could read it, laboriously.
Thus, at eighteen, we find him, an Englilordling, who could speak no English, and y
who could read and write his native languag
Never had he seen a human being other th
himself, for the little area traversed by his trib
was watered by no greater river to bring dowthe savage natives of the interior.
High hills shut it off on three sides, the oce
on the fourth. It was alive with lions and leopar
and poisonous snakes. Its untouched mazes
matted jungle had as yet invited no hardy pione
from the human beasts beyond its frontier.
But as Tarzan of the Apes sat one day in th
cabin of his father delving into the mysteries of
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new book, the ancient security of his jungle w
broken forever.
At the far eastern confine a strange cavalcad
strung, in single file, over the brow of a low hilIn advance were fifty black warriors arme
with slender wooden spears with ends ha
baked over slow fires, and long bows an
poisoned arrows. On their backs were ovshields, in their noses huge rings, while from th
kinky wool of their heads protruded tufts of g
feathers.
Across their foreheads were tattooed thr
parallel lines of color, and on each breast thrconcentric circles. Their yellow teeth were file
to sharp points, and their great protruding li
added still further to the low and besti
brutishness of their appearance.
Following them were several hundred wome
and children, the former bearing upon their hea
great burdens of cooking pots, household utens
and ivory. In the rear were a hundred warrior
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similar in all respects to the advance guard.
That they more greatly feared an attack fro
the rear than whatever unknown enemies lurke
in their advance was evidenced by the formatioof the column; and such was the fact, for th
were fleeing from the white man's soldiers wh
had so harassed them for rubber and ivory th
they had turned upon their conquerors one dand massacred a white officer and a sma
detachment of his black troops.
For many days they had gorged themselves o
meat, but eventually a stronger body of troo
had come and fallen upon their village by nigto revenge the death of their comrades.
That night the black soldiers of the white m
had had meat a-plenty, and this little remnant
a once powerful tribe had slunk off into th
gloomy jungle toward the unknown, and freedo
But that which meant freedom and the pursu
of happiness to these savage blacks mea
consternation and death to many of the wi
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denizens of their new home.
For three days the little cavalcade marche
slowly through the heart of this unknown an
untracked forest, until finally, early in the fourday, they came upon a little spot near the ban
of a small river, which seemed less thick
overgrown than any ground they had y
encountered.Here they set to work to build a new villag
and in a month a great clearing had been mad
huts and palisades erected, plantains, yams an
maize planted, and they had taken up their o
life in their new home.Here there were no white men, no soldiers, n
any rubber or ivory to be gathered for cruel an
thankless taskmasters.
Several moons passed by ere the blac
ventured far into the territory surrounding the
new village. Several had already fallen prey
old Sabor, and because the jungle was so infest
with these fierce and bloodthirsty cats, and wi
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lions and leopards, the ebony warriors hesitate
to trust themselves far from the safety of the
palisades.
But one day, Kulonga, a son of the old kinMbonga, wandered far into the dense mazes
the west. Warily he stepped, his slender lan
ever ready, his long oval shield firmly grasped
his left hand close to his sleek ebony body.At his back his bow, and in the quiver upo
his shield many slim, straight arrows, we
smeared with the thick, dark, tarry substance th
rendered deadly their tiniest needle prick.
Night found Kulonga far from the palisades his father's village, but still headed westwar
and climbing into the fork of a great tree
fashioned a rude platform and curled himself f
sleep.
Three miles to the west slept the tribe
Kerchak.
Early the next morning the apes were ast
moving through the jungle in search of foo
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Tarzan, as was his custom, prosecuted his searc
in the direction of the cabin so that by leisure
hunting on the way his stomach was filled by th
time he reached the beach.The apes scattered by ones, and twos, an
threes in all directions, but ever within sound of
signal of alarm.
Kala had moved slowly along an elephatrack toward the east, and was busily engaged
turning over rotted limbs and logs in search
succulent bugs and fungi, when the fainte
shadow of a strange noise brought her to startle
attention.For fifty yards before her the trail was straigh
and down this leafy tunnel she saw the stealth
advancing figure of a strange and fearful creatu
It was Kulonga.
Kala did not wait to see more, but, turnin
moved rapidly back along the trail. She did n
run; but, after the manner of her kind when n
aroused, sought rather to avoid than to escape.
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Close after her came Kulonga. Here was me
He could make a killing and feast well this da
On he hurried, his spear poised for the throw.
At a turning of the trail he came in sight of hagain upon another straight stretch. His spe
hand went far back the muscles rolled, lightnin
like, beneath the sleek hide. Out shot the arm
and the spear sped toward Kala.A poor cast. It but grazed her side.
With a cry of rage and pain the she-ape turne
upon her tormentor. In an instant the trees we
crashing beneath the weight of her hurryin
fellows, swinging rapidly toward the scene trouble in answer to Kala's scream.
As she charged, Kulonga unslung his bow an
fitted an arrow with almost unthinkab
quickness. Drawing the shaft far back he dro
the poisoned missile straight into the heart of t
great anthropoid.
With a horrid scream Kala plunged forwa
upon her face before the astonished members
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her tribe.
Roaring and shrieking the apes dashed towa
Kulonga, but that wary savage was fleeing dow
the trail like a frightened antelope.He knew something of the ferocity of the
wild, hairy men, and his one desire was to put
many miles between himself and them as h
possibly could.They followed him, racing through the tree
for a long distance, but finally one by one th
abandoned the chase and returned to the scene
the tragedy.
None of them had ever seen a man beforother than Tarzan, and so they wondered vague
what strange manner of creature it might be th
had invaded their jungle.
On the far beach by the little cabin Tarza
heard the faint echoes of the conflict an
knowing that something was seriously ami
among the tribe he hastened rapidly toward th
direction of the sound.
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When he arrived he found the entire trib
gathered jabbering about the dead body of h
slain mother.
Tarzan's grief and anger were unbounded. Hroared out his hideous challenge time and agai
He beat upon his great chest with his clenche
fists, and then he fell upon the body of Kala an
sobbed out the pitiful sorrowing of his loneheart.
To lose the only creature in all his world wh
ever had manifested love and affection for hi
was the greatest tragedy he had ever known.
What though Kala was a fierce and hideoape! To Tarzan she had been kind, she had be
beautiful.
Upon her he had lavished, unknown to himse
all the reverence and respect and love that
normal English boy feels for his own mother.
He had never known another, and so to Ka
was given, though mutely, all that would hav
belonged to the fair and lovely Lady Alice ha
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she lived.
After the first outburst of grief Tarz
controlled himself, and questioning the membe
of the tribe who had witnessed the killing of Kahe learned all that their meager vocabulary cou
convey.
It was enough, however, for his needs. It to
him of a strange, hairless, black ape with feathegrowing upon its head, who launched death fro
a slender branch, and then ran, with the fleetne
of Bara, the deer, toward the rising sun.
Tarzan waited no longer, but leaping into t
branches of the trees sped rapidly through thforest. He knew the windings of the elephant tra
along which Kala's murderer had flown, and
he cut straight through the jungle to intercept t
black warrior who was evidently following th
tortuous detours of the trail.
At his side was the hunting knife of h
unknown sire, and across his shoulders the coi
of his own long rope. In an hour he struck t
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trail again, and coming to earth examined the so
minutely.
In the soft mud on the bank of a tiny rivulet
found footprints such as he alone in all the junghad ever made, but much larger than his.
His heart beat fast. Could it be that he w
trailing a MAN-one of his own race?
There were two sets of imprints pointing opposite directions. So his quarry had alread
passed on his return along the trail. As h
examined the newer spoor a tiny particle of ear
toppled from the outer edge of one of th
footprints to the bottom of its shallodepression-ah, the trail was very fresh, his pr
must have but scarcely passed.
Tarzan swung himself to the trees once mor
and with swift noiselessness sped along hig
above the trail.
He had covered barely a mile when he cam
upon the black warrior standing in a little ope
space. In his hand was his slender bow to whi
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he had fitted one of his death dealing arrows.
Opposite him across the little clearing stoo
Horta, the boar, with lowered head and foa
flecked tucks, ready to charge.Tarzan looked with wonder upon the stran
creature beneath him-so like him in form and y
so different in face and color. His books h
portrayed the NEGRO, but how different hbeen the dull, dead print to this sleek thing
ebony, pulsing with life.
As the man stood there with taut drawn bo
Tarzan recognized him not so much the NEGR
as the ARCHER of his picture book- A stanfor Archer How wonderful! Tarzan almo
betrayed his presence in the deep excitement
his discovery.
But things were commencing to happen belo
him. The sinewy black arm had drawn the sha
far back; Horta, the boar, was charging, and the
the black released the little poisoned arrow, an
Tarzan saw it fly with the quickness of thoug
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and lodge in the bristling neck of the boar.
Scarcely had the shaft left his bow e
Kulonga had fitted another to it, but Horta, th
boar, was upon him so quickly that he had ntime to discharge it. With a bound the blac
leaped entirely over the rushing beast and turnin
with incredible swiftness planted a second arro
in Horta's back.Then Kulonga sprang into a near-by tree.
Horta wheeled to charge his enemy once mo
a dozen steps he took, then he staggered and fe
upon his side. For a moment his muscl
stiffened and relaxed convulsively, then he lastill.
Kulonga came down from his tree.
With a knife that hung at his side he c
several large pieces from the boar's body, and
the center of the trail he built a fire, cooking an
eating as much as he wanted. The rest he le
where it had fallen.
Tarzan was an interested spectator. His desi
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to kill burned fiercely in his wild breast, but h
desire to learn was even greater. He wou
follow this savage creature for a while and kno
from whence he came.He could kill him at his leisure later, when th
bow and deadly arrows were laid aside.
When Kulonga had finished his repast an
disappeared beyond a near turning of the patTarzan dropped quietly to the ground. With h
knife he severed many strips of meat fro
Horta's carcass, but he did not cook them.
He had seen fire, but only when Ara, th
lightning, had destroyed some great tree. Thany creature of the jungle could produce the re
and-yellow fangs which devoured wood and le
nothing but fine dust surprised Tarzan greatl
and why the black warrior had ruined h
delicious repast by plunging it into the blightin
heat was quite beyond him. Possibly Ara was
friend with whom the Archer was sharing h
food.
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But, be that as it may, Tarzan would not ru
good meat in any such foolish manner, so h
gobbled down a great quantity of the raw fles
burying the balance of the carcass beside the trawhere he could find it upon his return.
And then Lord Greystoke wiped his grea
fingers upon his naked thighs and took up th
trail of Kulonga, the son of Mbonga, the kinwhile in far-off London another Lord Greystok
the younger brother of the real Lord Greystoke
father, sent back his chops to the club's CHE
because they were underdone, and when he ha
finished his repast he dipped his finger-ends ina silver bowl of scented water and dried the
upon a piece of snowy damask.
All day Tarzan followed Kulonga, hoverin
above him in the trees like some malign spir
Twice more he saw him hurl his arrows
destruction-once at Dango, the hyena, and aga
at Manu, the monkey.
In each instance the animal died almo
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instantly, for Kulonga's poison was very fre
and very deadly.
Tarzan thought much on this wondro
method of slaying as he swung slowly along atsafe distance behind his quarry. He knew th
alone the tiny prick of the arrow could not
quickly dispatch these wild things of the jungl
who were often torn and scratched and gored infrightful manner as they fought with their jung
neighbors, yet as often recovered as not.
No, there was something mysterio
connected with these tiny slivers of wood whic
could bring death by a mere scratch. He mulook into the matter.
That night Kulonga slept in the crotch of
mighty tree and far above him crouched Tarza
of the Apes.
When Kulonga awoke he found that his bo
and arrows had disappeared.
The black warrior was furious and frightene
but more frightened than furious. He search
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the ground below the tree, and he searched th
tree above the ground; but there was no sign
either bow or arrows or of the nocturn
marauder.Kulonga was panic-stricken. His spear he ha
hurled at Kala and had not recovered; and, no
that his bow and arrows were gone, he w
defenseless except for a single knife. His onhope lay in reaching the village of Mbonga
quickly as his legs would carry him.
That he was not far from home he was certai
so he took the trail at a rapid trot.
From a great mass of impenetrable foliagefew yards away emerged Tarzan of the Apes
swing quietly in his wake.
Kulonga's bow and arrows were securely tie
high in the top of a giant tree from which a patc
of bark had been removed by a sharp knife ne
to the ground, and a branch half cut through an
left hanging about fifty feet higher up. Th
Tarzan blazed the forest trails and marked h
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caches.
As Kulonga continued his journey Tarz
closed on him until he traveled almost over th
black's head. His rope he now held coiled in hright hand; he was almost ready for the kill.
The moment was delayed only because Tarz
was anxious to ascertain the black warrio
destination, and presently he was rewarded, fthey came suddenly in view of a great clearin
at one end of which lay many strange lairs.
Tarzan was directly over Kulonga, as he ma
the discovery. The forest ended abruptly an
beyond lay two hundred yards of planted fielbetween the jungle and the village.
Tarzan must act quickly or his prey would b
gone; but Tarzan's life training left so little spa
between decision and action when an emergenc
confronted him that there was not even room f
the shadow of a thought between.
So it was that as Kulonga emerged from t
shadow of the jungle a slender coil of rope sp
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sinuously above him from the lowest branch of
mighty tree directly upon the edge of the fiel
of Mbonga, and ere the king's son had taken
half dozen steps into the clearing a quick nootightened about his neck.
So quickly did Tarzan of the Apes drag bac
his prey that Kulonga's cry of alarm was throttl
in his windpipe. Hand over hand Tarzan drew thstruggling black until he had him hanging by h
neck in mid-air; then Tarzan climbed to a larg
branch drawing the still threshing victim well u
into the sheltering verdure of the tree.
Here he fastened the rope securely to a stobranch, and then, descending, plunged h
hunting knife into Kulonga's heart. Kala w
avenged.
Tarzan examined the black minutely, for h
had never seen any other human being. The kni
with its sheath and belt caught his eye; h
appropriated them. A copper anklet also took h
fancy, and this he transferred to his own leg.
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He examined and admired the tattooing on th
forehead and breast. He marveled at the sha
filed teeth. He investigated and appropriated th
feathered headdress, and then he prepared to gdown to business, for Tarzan of the Apes w
hungry, and here was meat; meat of the ki
which jungle ethics permitted him to eat.
How may we judge him, by what standardthis ape-man with the heart and head and body
an English gentleman, and the training of a wi
beast?
Tublat, whom he had hated and who had hat
him, he had killed in a fair fight, and yet nevhad the thought of eating Tublat's flesh entere
his head. It could have been as revolting to hi
as is cannibalism to us.
But who was Kulonga that he might not b
eaten as fairly as Horta, the boar, or Bara, th
deer? Was he not simply another of the countle
wild things of the jungle who preyed upon on
another to satisfy the cravings of hunger?
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Suddenly, a strange doubt stayed his han
Had not his books taught him that he was a ma
And was not The Archer a man, also?
Did men eat men? Alas, he did not know. Whthen, this hesitancy!
Once more he essayed the effort, but a qual
of nausea overwhelmed him.
He did not understand.All he knew was that he could not eat the fle
of this black man, and thus hereditary instinc
ages old, usurped the functions of his untaug
mind and saved him from transgressing
worldwide law of whose very existence he wignorant.
Quickly he lowered Kulonga's body to th
ground, removed the noose, and took to the tre
again.
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Chapter X
The F ear-P hantom
From a lofty perch Tarzan viewed the villa
of thatched huts across the intervening plantatio
He saw that at one point the forest touched th
village, and to this spot he made his way, lureby a fever of curiosity to behold animals of h
own kind, and to learn more of their ways an
view the strange lairs in which they lived.
His savage life among the fierce wild brutes
the jungle left no opening for any thought ththese could be aught else than enemies.
Similarity of form led him into no erroneo
conception of the welcome that would
accorded him should he be discovered by thes
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the first of his own kind he had ever seen.
Tarzan of the Apes was no sentimentalist. H
knew nothing of the brotherhood of man. A
things outside his own tribe were his deadenemies, with the few exceptions of whic
Tantor, the elephant, was a marked example.
And he realized all this without malice
hatred. To kill was the law of the wild world hknew. Few were his primitive pleasures, but t
greatest of these was to hunt and kill, and so h
accorded to others the right to cherish the sam
desires as he, even though he himself might b
the object of their hunt.His strange life had left him neither moro
nor bloodthirsty. That he joyed in killing, an
that he killed with a joyous laugh upon h
handsome lips betokened no innate cruelty. H
killed for food most often, but, being a man, h
sometimes killed for pleasure, a thing which n
other animal does; for it has remained for m
alone among all creatures to kill senselessly an
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wantonly for the mere pleasure of inflictin
suffering and death.
And when he killed for revenge, or in sel
defense, he did that also without hysteria, forwas a very businesslike proceeding whi
admitted of no levity.
So it was that now, as he cautious
approached the village of Mbonga, he was quiprepared either to kill or be killed should he
discovered. He proceeded with unwonted stealt
for Kulonga had taught him great respect for t
little sharp splinters of wood which dealt dea
so swiftly and unerringly.At length he came to a great tree, heavy lade
with thick foliage and loaded with pendant loo
of giant creepers. From this almost impenetrab
bower above the village he crouched, lookin
down upon the scene below him, wondering ov
every feature of this new, strange life.
There were naked children running an
playing in the village street.
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There were women grinding dried plantain
crude stone mortars, while others we
fashioning cakes from the powdered flour. Out
the fields he could see still other women hoeinweeding, or gathering.
All wore strange protruding girdles of drie
grass about their hips and many were loaded wi
brass and copper anklets, armlets and bracelets.Around many a dusky neck hung curious
coiled strands of wire, while several were furth
ornamented by huge nose rings.
Tarzan of the Apes looked with growin
wonder at these strange creatures. Dozing in thshade he saw several men, while at the extrem
outskirts of the clearing he occasionally caug
glimpses of armed warriors apparently guardin
the village against surprise from an attackin
enemy.
He noticed that the women alone worke
Nowhere was there evidence of a man tilling t
fields or performing any of the homely duties
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the village.
Finally his eyes rested upon a woman direct
beneath him.
Before her was a small cauldron standing ova low fire and in it bubbled a thick, reddish, tar
mass. On one side of her lay a quantity
wooden arrows the points of which she dippe
into the seething substance, then laying theupon a narrow rack of boughs which stood upo
her other side.
Tarzan of the Apes was fascinated. Here w
the secret of the terrible destructiveness of Th
Archer's tiny missiles. He noted the extreme cawhich the woman took that none of the matt
should touch her hands, and once when a partic
spattered upon one of her fingers he saw h
plunge the member into a vessel of water an
quickly rub the tiny stain away with a handful
leaves.
Tarzan knew nothing of poison, but his shrew
reasoning told him that it was this deadly stu
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that killed, and not the little arrow, which w
merely the messenger that carried it into the bod
of its victim.
How he should like to have more of those littdeath-dealing slivers.
If the woman would only leave her work f
an instant he could drop down, gather up
handful, and be back in the tree again before shdrew three breaths.
As he was trying to think out some plan
distract her attention he heard a wild cry fro
across the clearing. He looked and saw a blac
warrior standing beneath the very tree in whihe had killed the murderer of Kala an ho
before.
The fellow was shouting and waving his spe
above his head. Now and again he would point
something on the ground before him.
The village was in an uproar instantly. Arme
men rushed from the interior of many a hut an
raced madly across the clearing toward t
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excited sentry. After them trooped the old me
and the women and children until, in a momen
the village was deserted.
Tarzan of the Apes knew that they had founthe body of his victim, but that interested him f
less than the fact that no one remained in th
village to prevent his taking a supply of th
arrows which lay below him.Quickly and noiselessly he dropped to t
ground beside the cauldron of poison. For
moment he stood motionless, his quick, brig
eyes scanning the interior of the palisade.
No one was in sight. His eyes rested upon topen doorway of a nearby hut. He would take
look within, thought Tarzan, and so, cautiousl
he approached the low thatched building.
For a moment he stood without, listenin
intently. There was no sound, and he glided in
the semi-darkness of the interior.
Weapons hung against the walls-long spear
strangely shaped knives, a couple of narro
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shields. In the center of the room was a cookin
pot, and at the far end a litter of dry grass
covered by woven mats which evidently serve
the owners as beds and bedding. Several humskulls lay upon the floor.
Tarzan of the Apes felt of each article, hefte
the spears, smelled of them, for he "saw" large
through his sensitive and highly trained nostrilHe determined to own one of these long, point
sticks, but he could not take one on this tr
because of the arrows he meant to carry.
As he took each article from the walls,
placed it in a pile in the center of the room. Otop of all he placed the cooking pot, inverte
and on top of this he laid one of the grinnin
skulls, upon which he fastened the headdress
the dead Kulonga.
Then he stood back, surveyed his work, an
grinned. Tarzan of the Apes enjoyed a joke.
But now he heard, outside, the sounds of man
voices, and long mournful howls, and migh
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wailing. He was startled. Had he remained to
long?
Quickly he reached the doorway and peere
down the village street toward the village gate.The natives were not yet in sight, though h
could plainly hear them approaching across t
plantation. They must be very near.
Like a flash he sprang across the opening the pile of arrows.
Gathering up all he could carry under one arm
he overturned the seething cauldron with a kic
and disappeared into the foliage above just as th
first of the returning natives entered the gate the far end of the village street. Then he turned
watch the proceeding below, poised like som
wild bird ready to take swift wing at the first sig
of danger.
The natives filed up the street, four of the
bearing the dead body of Kulonga. Behind trail
the women, uttering strange cries and wei
lamentation. On they came to the portals
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Kulonga's hut, the very one in which Tarzan h
wrought his depredations.
Scarcely had half a dozen entered the buildin
ere they came rushing out in wild, jabberinconfusion. The others hastened to gather about.
There was much excited gesticulatin
pointing, and chattering; then several of th
warriors approached and peered within.Finally an old fellow with many ornaments
metal about his arms and legs, and a necklace
dried human hands depending upon his che
entered the hut.
It was Mbonga, the king, father of Kulonga.For a few moments all was silent. Th
Mbonga emerged, a look of mingled wrath an
superstitious fear writ upon his hideo
countenance.
He spoke a few words to the assemble
warriors, and in an instant the men were flyin
through the little village searching minute
every hut and corner within the palisades.
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Scarcely had the search commenced than th
overturned cauldron was discovered, and with
the theft of the poisoned arrows. Nothing mo
they found, and it was a thoroughly awed anfrightened group of savages which huddle
around their king a few moments later.
Mbonga could explain nothing of the stran
events that had taken place. The finding of thstill warm body of Kulonga-on the very verge
their fields and within easy earshot of the villag
knifed and stripped at the door of his father
home, was in itself sufficiently mysterious, b
these last awesome discoveries within the villagwithin the dead Kulonga's own hut, filled the
hearts with dismay, and conjured in their po
brains only the most frightful of superstitio
explanations.
They stood in little groups, talking in lo
tones, and ever casting affrighted glances behin
them from their great rolling eyes.
Tarzan of the Apes watched them for a whi
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from his lofty perch in the great tree. There w
much in their demeanor which he could n
understand, for of superstition he was ignoran
and of fear of any kind he had but a vagconception.
The sun was high in the heavens. Tarzan ha
not broken fast this day, and it was many mil
to where lay the toothsome remains of Horta tboar.
So he turned his back upon the village
Mbonga and melted away into the leafy fastne
of the forest.
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Chapter XI "K ing of the A pes"
It was not yet dark when he reached the trib
though he stopped to exhume and devour th
remains of the wild boar he had cached th
preceding day, and again to take Kulonga's bo
and arrows from the tree top in which he hahidden them.
It was a well-laden Tarzan who dropped fro
the branches into the midst of the tribe
Kerchak.
With swelling chest he narrated the glories his adventure and exhibited the spoils
conquest.
Kerchak grunted and turned away, for he w
jealous of this strange member of his band In h
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little evil brain he sought for some excuse
wreak his hatred upon Tarzan.
The next day Tarzan was practicing with h
bow and arrows at the first gleam of dawn. Afirst he lost nearly every bolt he shot, but final
he learned to guide the little shafts with fa
accuracy, and ere a month had passed he was n
mean shot; but his proficiency had cost hinearly his entire supply of arrows.
The tribe continued to find the hunting good
the vicinity of the beach, and so Tarzan of th
Apes varied his archery practice with furth
investigation of his father's choice though littstore of books.
It was during this period that the youn
English lord found hidden in the back of one
the cupboards in the cabin a small metal bo
The key was in the lock, and a few moments
investigation and experimentation were reward
with the successful opening of the receptacle.
In it he found a faded photograph of a smoo
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faced young man, a golden locket studded wi
diamonds, linked to a small gold chain, a fe
letters and a small book.
Tarzan examined these all minutely.The photograph he liked most of all, for t
eyes were smiling, and the face was open an
frank. It was his father.
The locket, too, took his fancy, and he placethe chain about his neck in imitation of th
ornamentation he had seen to be so commo
among the black men he had visited. Th
brilliant stones gleamed strangely against h
smooth, brown hide.The letters he could scarcely decipher for h
had learned little or nothing of script, so he p
them back in the box with the photograph an
turned his attention to the book.
This was almost entirely filled with fine scrip
but while the little bugs were all familiar to him
their arrangement and the combinations in whi
they occurred were strange, and entire
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incomprehensible.
Tarzan had long since learned the use of t
dictionary, but much to his sorrow and perplexi
it proved of no avail to him in this emergencNot a word of all that was writ in the book cou
he find, and so he put it back in the metal bo
but with a determination to work out t
mysteries of it later on.Little did he know that this book held betwee
its covers the key to his origin-the answer to th
strange riddle of his strange life. It was the dia
of John Clayton, Lord Greystoke-kept in Frenc
as had always been his custom.Tarzan replaced the box in the cupboard, b
always thereafter he carried the features of th
strong, smiling face of his father in his heart, an
in his head a fixed determination to solve t
mystery of the strange words in the little blac
book.
At present he had more important business
hand, for his supply of arrows was exhauste
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and he must needs journey to the black men
village and renew it.
Early the following morning he set out, an
traveling rapidly, he came before midday to thclearing. Once more he took up his position
the great tree, and, as before, he saw the wom
in the fields and the village street, and th
cauldron of bubbling poison directly beneath hiFor hours he lay awaiting his opportunity
drop down unseen and gather up the arrows f
which he had come; but nothing now occurred
call the villagers away from their homes. Th
day wore on, and still Tarzan of the Apcrouched above the unsuspecting woman at th
cauldron.
Presently the workers in the fields returne
The hunting warriors emerged from the fore
and when all were within the palisade the gat
were closed and barred.
Many cooking pots were now in eviden
about the village. Before each hut a wom
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presided over a boiling stew, while little cakes
plantain, and cassava puddings were to be see
on every hand.
Suddenly there came a hail from the edge the clearing.
Tarzan looked.
It was a party of belated hunters returnin
from the north, and among them they half lehalf carried a struggling animal.
As they approached the village the gates we
thrown open to admit them, and then, as t
people saw the victim of the chase, a savage c
rose to the heavens, for the quarry was a man.As he was dragged, still resisting, into th
village street, the women and children set upo
him with sticks and stones, and Tarzan of th
Apes, young and savage beast of the jungl
wondered at the cruel brutality of his own kind.
Sheeta, the leopard, alone of all the jungle fo
tortured his prey.
The ethics of all the others meted a quick an
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merciful death to their victims.
Tarzan had learned from his books b
scattered fragments of the ways of human being
When he had followed Kulonga through thforest he had expected to come to a city
strange houses on wheels, puffing clouds
black smoke from a huge tree stuck in the roof
one of them-or to a sea covered with mighfloating buildings which he had learned we
called, variously, ships and boats and steame
and craft.
He had been sorely disappointed with the po
little village of the blacks, hidden away in hown jungle, and with not a single house as larg
as his own cabin upon the distant beach.
He saw that these people were more wicke
than his own apes, and as savage and cruel
Sabor, herself. Tarzan began to hold his ow
kind in low esteem.
Now they had tied their poor victim to a gre
post near the center of the village, directly befo
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Mbonga's hut, and here they formed a dancin
yelling circle of warriors about him, alive wi
flashing knives and menacing spears.
In a larger circle squatted the women, yellinand beating upon drums.
It reminded Tarzan of the Dum-Dum, and
he knew what to expect. He wondered if the
would spring upon their meat while it was stalive.
The Apes did not do such things as that.
The circle of warriors about the cringin
captive drew closer and closer to their prey
they danced in wild and savage abandon to thmaddening music of the drums. Presently a spe
reached out and pricked the victim. It was th
signal for fifty others.
Eyes, ears, arms and legs were pierced; eve
inch of the poor writhing body that did not cov
a vital organ became the target of the cru
lancers.
The women and children shrieked their delig
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The warriors licked their hideous lips
anticipation of the feast to come, and vied wi
one another in the savagery and loathsomene
of the cruel indignities with which they torturthe still conscious prisoner.
Then it was that Tarzan of the Apes saw h
chance. All eyes were fixed upon the thrillin
spectacle at the stake. The light of day had giveplace to the darkness of a moonless night, an
only the fires in the immediate vicinity of th
orgy had been kept alight to cast a restless glo
upon the restless scene.
Gently the lithe boy dropped to the soft earat the end of the village street. Quickly h
gathered up the arrows-all of them this time, f
he had brought a number of long fibers to bin
them into a bundle.
Without haste he wrapped them securely, an
then, ere he turned to leave, the devil
capriciousness entered his heart. He looked abo
for some hint of a wild prank to play upon the
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strange, grotesque creatures that they might b
again aware of his presence among them.
Dropping his bundle of arrows at the foot
the tree, Tarzan crept among the shadows at tside of the street until he came to the same hut h
had entered on the occasion of his first visit.
Inside all was darkness, but his groping han
soon found the object for which he sought, anwithout further delay he turned again toward th
door.
He had taken but a step, however, ere h
quick ear caught the sound of approachin
footsteps immediately without. In another instathe figure of a woman darkened the entrance
the hut.
Tarzan drew back silently to the far wall, an
his hand sought the long, keen hunting knife
his father. The woman came quickly to the cent
of the hut. There she paused for an instant feelin
about with her hands for the thing she sough
Evidently it was not in its accustomed place, f
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she explored ever nearer and nearer the wa
where Tarzan stood.
So close was she now that the ape-man felt th
animal warmth of her naked body. Up went thhunting knife, and then the woman turned to on
side and soon a guttural "ah" proclaimed that h
search had at last been successful.
Immediately she turned and left the hut, and she passed through the doorway Tarzan saw th
she carried a cooking pot in her hand.
He followed closely after her, and as h
reconnoitered from the shadows of the doorw
he saw that all the women of the village wehastening to and from the various huts with po
and kettles. These they were filling with wat
and placing over a number of fires near the stak
where the dying victim now hung, an inert an
bloody mass of suffering.
Choosing a moment when none seemed nea
Tarzan hastened to his bundle of arrows benea
the great tree at the end of the village street. A
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on the former occasion he overthrew th
cauldron before leaping, sinuous and catlike, in
the lower branches of the forest giant.
Silently he climbed to a great height until hfound a point where he could look through
leafy opening upon the scene beneath him.
The women were now preparing the prison
for their cooking pots, while the men stood aboresting after the fatigue of their mad revel.
Comparative quiet reigned in the village.
Tarzan raised aloft the thing he had pilfere
from the hut, and, with aim made true by years
fruit and coconut throwing, launched it towathe group of savages.
Squarely among them it fell, striking one
the warriors full upon the head and felling him
the ground. Then it rolled among the women an
stopped beside the half-butchered thing th
were preparing to feast upon.
All gazed in consternation at it for an instan
and then, with one accord, broke and ran for the
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huts.
It was a grinning human skull which looked u
at them from the ground.
The dropping of the thing out of the open skwas a miracle well aimed to work upon the
superstitious fears.
Thus Tarzan of the Apes left them filled wi
terror at this new manifestation of the presenof some unseen and unearthly evil power whic
lurked in the forest about their village.
Later, when they discovered the overturn
cauldron, and that once more their arrows ha
been pilfered, it commenced to dawn upon thethat they had offended some great god by placin
their village in this part of the jungle witho
propitiating him. From then on an offering
food was daily placed below the great tree fro
whence the arrows had disappeared in an effo
to conciliate the mighty one.
But the seed of fear was deep sown, and ha
he but known it, Tarzan of the Apes had laid t
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foundation for much future misery for himse
and his tribe.
That night he slept in the forest not far fro
the village, and early the next morning set oslowly on his homeward march, hunting as h
traveled. Only a few berries and an occasion
grub worm rewarded his search, and he was ha
famished when, looking up from a log he hbeen rooting beneath, he saw Sabor, the liones
standing in the center of the trail not twen
paces from him.
The great yellow eyes were fixed upon hi
with a wicked and baleful gleam, and the rtongue licked the longing lips as Sabor crouche
worming her stealthy way with belly flatten
against the earth.
Tarzan did not attempt to escape. H
welcomed the opportunity for which, in fact,
had been searching for days past, now that h
was armed with something more than a rope
grass.
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Quickly he unslung his bow and fitted a we
daubed arrow, and as Sabor sprang, the tin
missile leaped to meet her in mid-air. At t
same instant Tarzan of the Apes jumped to onside, and as the great cat struck the groun
beyond him another death-tipped arrow sun
deep into Sabor's loin.
With a mighty roar the beast turned ancharged once more, only to be met with a thi
arrow full in one eye; but this time she was to
close to the ape-man for the latter to sidestep t
onrushing body.
Tarzan of the Apes went down beneath tgreat body of his enemy, but with gleaming kni
drawn and striking home. For a moment they l
there, and then Tarzan realized that the ine
mass lying upon him was beyond power ev
again to injure man or ape.
With difficulty he wriggled from beneath th
great weight, and as he stood erect and gaz
down upon the trophy of his skill, a mighty wa
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Deftly he removed the great pelt, for he ha
practiced often on smaller animals. When th
task was finished he carried his trophy to the fo
of a high tree, and there, curling himself securein a crotch, he fell into deep and dreamle
slumber.
What with loss of sleep, arduous exercise, an
a full belly, Tarzan of the Apes slept the suaround, awakening about noon of the followin
day. He straightway repaired to the carcass
Sabor, but was angered to find the bones picke
clean by other hungry denizens of the jungle.
Half an hour's leisurely progress through tforest brought to sight a young deer, and befo
the little creature knew that an enemy was near
tiny arrow had lodged in its neck.
So quickly the virus worked that at the end
a dozen leaps the deer plunged headlong into th
undergrowth, dead. Again did Tarzan feast we
but this time he did not sleep.
Instead, he hastened on toward the point whe
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he had left the tribe, and when he had foun
them proudly exhibited the skin of Sabor, th
lioness.
"Look!" he cried, "Apes of Kerchak. See whTarzan, the mighty killer, has done. Who el
among you has ever killed one of Numa's peop
Tarzan is mightiest amongst you for Tarzan is n
ape. Tarzan is-" But here he stopped, for in thlanguage of the anthropoids there was no wo
for man, and Tarzan could only write the word
English; he could not pronounce it.
The tribe had gathered about to look upon t
proof of his wondrous prowess, and to listen his words.
Only Kerchak hung back, nursing his hatr
and his rage.
Suddenly something snapped in the wicke
little brain of the anthropoid. With a frightf
roar the great beast sprang among th
assemblage.
Biting, and striking with his huge hands, h
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Straining the ape-man close to him, his great jaw
sought Tarzan's throat, but the young lord's sinew
fingers were at Kerchak's own before the cruel fan
could close on the sleek brown skin.Thus they struggled, the one to crush out h
opponent's life with those awful teeth, the other
close forever the windpipe beneath his strong gra
while he held the snarling mouth from him.The greater strength of the ape was slow
prevailing, and the teeth of the straining beast we
scarce an inch from Tarzan's throat when, with
shuddering tremor, the great body stiffened for
instant and then sank limply to the ground.Kerchak was dead.
Withdrawing the knife that had so often render
him master of far mightier muscles than his ow
Tarzan of the Apes placed his foot upon the neck
his vanquished enemy, and once again, loud throu
the forest rang the fierce, wild cry of the conqueror
And thus came the young Lord Greystoke into t
kingship of the Apes.
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were the means of providing for them mo
bountifully than ever before.
Most of them, therefore, were more tha
content with the change in rulers.Tarzan led them by night to the fields of t
black men, and there, warned by their chie
superior wisdom, they ate only what th
required, nor ever did they destroy what thcould not eat, as is the way of Manu, the monk
and of most apes.
So, while the blacks were wroth at t
continued pilfering of their fields, they were n
discouraged in their efforts to cultivate the lanas would have been the case had Tarz
permitted his people to lay waste the plantatio
wantonly.
During this period Tarzan paid many nocturn
visits to the village, where he often renewed h
supply of arrows. He soon noticed the foo
always standing at the foot of the tree which w
his avenue into the palisade, and after a little, h
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commenced to eat whatever the blacks put there
When the awe-struck savages saw that th
food disappeared overnight they were filled wi
consternation and dread, for it was one thing put food out to propitiate a god or a devil, b
quite another thing to have the spirit really com
into the village and eat it. Such a thing w
unheard of, and it clouded their superstitiominds with all manner of vague fears.
Nor was this all. The periodic disappearan
of their arrows, and the strange pran
perpetrated by unseen hands, had wrought the
to such a state that life had become a veritabburden in their new home, and now it was th
Mbonga and his head men began to talk
abandoning the village and seeking a site farth
on in the jungle.
Presently the black warriors began to strik
farther and farther south into the heart of t
forest when they went to hunt, looking for a si
for a new village.
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More often was the tribe of Tarzan disturbe
by these wandering huntsmen. Now was t
quiet, fierce solitude of the primeval fore
broken by new, strange cries. No longer wthere safety for bird or beast. Man had come.
Other animals passed up and down the jung
by day and by night-fierce, cruel beasts-but the
weaker neighbors only fled from their immediavicinity to return again when the danger was pa
With man it is different. When he comes man
of the larger animals instinctively leave th
district entirely, seldom if ever to return; an
thus it has always been with the greanthropoids. They flee man as man flees
pestilence.
For a short time the tribe of Tarzan lingered
the vicinity of the beach because their new chi
hated the thought of leaving the treasur
contents of the little cabin forever. But when on
day a member of the tribe discovered the blac
in great numbers on the banks of a little strea
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solitary hunters with his long, deadly noos
stripping them of weapons and ornaments an
dropping their bodies from a high tree into th
village street during the still watches of the nighThese various escapades again so terrorize
the blacks that, had it not been for the month
respite between Tarzan's visits, in which they h
opportunity to renew hope that each freincursion would prove the last, they soon wou
have abandoned their new village.
The blacks had not as yet come upon Tarzan
cabin on the distant beach, but the ape-man live
in constant dread that, while he was away withe tribe, they would discover and despoil h
treasure. So it came that he spent more and mo
time in the vicinity of his father's last home, an
less and less with the tribe. Presently th
members of his little community began to suff
on account of his neglect, for disputes an
quarrels constantly arose which only the kin
might settle peaceably.
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them of the many new truths, and the great fiel
of thought that his reading had opened up befo
his longing eyes, or make known ambitio
which stirred his soul.Among the tribe he no longer had friends as
old. A little child may find companionship
many strange and simple creatures, but to
grown man there must be some semblance equality in intellect as the basis for agreeab
association.
Had Kala lived, Tarzan would have sacrifice
all else to remain near her, but now that she w
dead, and the playful friends of his childhoogrown into fierce and surly brutes he felt that h
much preferred the peace and solitude of h
cabin to the irksome duties of leadersh
amongst a horde of wild beasts.
The hatred and jealousy of Terkoz, son
Tublat, did much to counteract the effect
Tarzan's desire to renounce his kingship amon
the apes, for, stubborn young Englishman that h
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was, he could not bring himself to retreat in t
face of so malignant an enemy.
That Terkoz would be chosen leader in h
stead he knew full well, for time and again tferocious brute had established his claim
physical supremacy over the few bull apes wh
had dared resent his savage bullying.
Tarzan would have liked to subdue the ugbeast without recourse to knife or arrows. S
much had his great strength and agility increase
in the period following his maturity that he ha
come to believe that he might master t
redoubtable Terkoz in a hand to hand fight weit not for the terrible advantage the anthropoid
huge fighting fangs gave him over the poor
armed Tarzan.
The entire matter was taken out of Tarzan
hands one day by force of circumstances, and h
future left open to him, so that he might go
stay without any stain upon his savag
escutcheon.
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he had lived-an unknown savage beast
equatorial Africa.
But there was that which had raised him f
above his fellows of the jungle-that little spawhich spells the whole vast difference betwe
man and brute-Reason. This it was which save
him from death beneath the iron muscles an
tearing fangs of Terkoz.Scarcely had they fought a dozen seconds e
they were rolling upon the ground, strikin
tearing and rending-two great savage beas
battling to the death.
Terkoz had a dozen knife wounds on head anbreast, and Tarzan was torn and bleeding-h
scalp in one place half torn from his head so th
a great piece hung down over one ey
obstructing his vision.
But so far the young Englishman had bee
able to keep those horrible fangs from his jugul
and now, as they fought less fiercely for
moment, to regain their breath, Tarzan formed
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those swift and everchanging evolutions gav
him a new hold with his right hand, which
realized was absolutely unassailable.
His arm was passed beneath Terkoz's arfrom behind and his hand and forearm encircle
the back of Terkoz's neck. It was the half-Nelso
of modern wrestling which the untaught ape-m
had stumbled upon, but superior reason showhim in an instant the value of the thing he ha
discovered. It was the difference to him betwe
life and death.
And so he struggled to encompass a simil
hold with the left hand, and in a few momenTerkoz's bull neck was creaking beneath a fu
Nelson.
There was no more lunging about now. Th
two lay perfectly still upon the ground, Tarz
upon Terkoz's back. Slowly the bullet head of t
ape was being forced lower and lower upon h
chest.
Tarzan knew what the result would be. In
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instant the neck would break. Then there came
Terkoz's rescue the same thing that had put hi
in these sore straits-a man's reasoning power.
"If I kill him," thought Tarzan, "whadvantage will it be to me?
Will it not rob the tribe of a great fighter? An
if Terkoz be dead, he will know nothing of m
supremacy, while alive he will ever be example to the other apes."
"KA-GODA?" hissed Tarzan in Terkoz's ea
which, in ape tongue, means, freely translate
"Do you surrender?"
For a moment there was no reply, and Tarzadded a few more ounces of pressure, whi
elicited a horrified shriek of pain from the gre
beast.
"KA-GODA?" repeated Tarzan.
"KA-GODA!" cried Terkoz.
"Listen," said Tarzan, easing up a trifle, b
not releasing his hold.
"I am Tarzan, King of the Apes, mighty hunt
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scraped and whittled at his young beard
eradicate this degrading emblem of apehood.
And so he learned to shave-rudely an
painfully, it is true-but, nevertheless, effectivelyWhen he felt quite strong again, after h
bloody battle with Terkoz, Tarzan set off on
morning towards Mbonga's village. He w
moving carelessly along a winding jungle trainstead of making his progress through the tree
when suddenly he came face to face with a bla
warrior.
The look of surprise on the savage face w
almost comical, and before Tarzan could unslinhis bow the fellow had turned and fled down th
path crying out in alarm as though to othe
before him.
Tarzan took to the trees in pursuit, and in
few moments came in view of the me
desperately striving to escape.
There were three of them, and they we
racing madly in single file through the den
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upon the shoulder of a giant who stood next him
and with whom all the others had been arguin
and quarreling.
The little man pointed inland, so that the giawas forced to turn away from the others to loo
in the direction indicated. As he turned, the littl
mean-faced man drew a revolver from his be
and shot the giant in the back.The big fellow threw his hands above his he
his knees bent beneath him, and without a soun
he tumbled forward upon the beach, dead.
The report of the weapon, the first that Tarz
had ever heard, filled him with wonderment, beven this unaccustomed sound could not start
his healthy nerves into even a semblance of pan
The conduct of the white strangers it was th
caused him the greatest perturbation. H
puckered his brows into a frown of deep though
It was well, thought he, that he had not give
way to his first impulse to rush forward and gre
these white men as brothers.
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They were evidently no different from t
black men-no more civilized than the apes-n
less cruel than Sabor.
For a moment the others stood looking at tlittle, mean-faced man and the giant lying dea
upon the beach.
Then one of them laughed and slapped th
little man upon the back.There was much more talk and gesticulatin
but less quarreling.
Presently they launched the boat and a
jumped into it and rowed away toward the gre
ship, where Tarzan could see other figurmoving about upon the deck.
When they had clambered aboard, Tarz
dropped to earth behind a great tree and crept
his cabin, keeping it always between himself an
the ship.
Slipping in at the door he found th
everything had been ransacked.
His books and pencils strewed the floor. H
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The others of the party were of different stam
One was an elderly man, with white hair an
large rimmed spectacles.
His slightly stooped shoulders were draped an ill-fitting, though immaculate, frock coat, an
a shiny silk hat added to the incongruity of h
garb in an African jungle.
The second member of the party to land wastall young man in white ducks, while direct
behind came another elderly man with a ve
high forehead and a fussy, excitable manner.
After these came a huge Negress clothed lik
Solomon as to colors. Her great eyes rolled evident terror, first toward the jungle and the
toward the cursing band of sailors who we
removing the bales and boxes from the boats.
The last member of the party to disembark w
a girl of about nineteen, and it was the youn
man who stood at the boat's prow to lift her hig
and dry upon land. She gave him a brave an
pretty smile of thanks, but no words pass
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KILLER OF BEASTS AND MANY BLACK
MEN. DO NOT HARM THE THING
WHICH
ARE TARZAN'S. TARZAN WATCHES.TARZAN OF THE APES.
"Who the devil is Tarzan?" cried the sail
who had before spoken.
"He evidently speaks English," said the younman.
"But what does 'Tarzan of the Apes' mean
cried the girl.
"I do not know, Miss Porter," replied t
young man, "unless we have discovered runaway simian from the London Zoo who h
brought back a European education to his jung
home. What do you make of it, Profess
Porter?" he added, turning to the old man.
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter adjusted h
spectacles.
"Ah, yes, indeed; yes indeed-most remarkabl
most remarkable!" said the professor; "but I c
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had seen the surprise caused by his notice, an
while he could understand nothing of the spok
language of these strange people their gestur
and facial expressions told him much.The act of the little rat-faced sailor in killin
one of his comrades had aroused a strong dislik
in Tarzan, and now that he saw him quarrelin
with the fine-looking young man his animosiwas still further stirred.
Tarzan had never seen the effects of a firear
before, though his books had taught hi
something of them, but when he saw the ra
faced one fingering the butt of his revolver hthought of the scene he had witnessed so short
time before, and naturally expected to see th
young man murdered as had been the huge sail
earlier in the day.
So Tarzan fitted a poisoned arrow to his bo
and drew a bead upon the rat-faced sailor, but th
foliage was so thick that he soon saw the arro
would be deflected by the leaves or some sma
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revolver from one of them while he searched th
jungle for the professor.
The rat-faced one, finding he was not dea
had regained his composure, and with a volley oaths directed at Clayton refused in the name
his fellows to allow the young man any firearm
This man, Snipes, had assumed the role
chief since he had killed their former leader, anso little time had elapsed that none of h
companions had as yet questioned his authority
Clayton's only response was a shrug of th
shoulders, but as he left them he picked up th
spear which had transfixed Snipes, and thprimitively armed, the son of the then Lo
Greystoke strode into the dense jungle.
Every few moments he called aloud the nam
of the wanderers. The watchers in the cabin b
the beach heard the sound of his voice growin
ever fainter and fainter, until at last it w
swallowed up by the myriad noises of t
primeval wood.
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Chapter XIV A t the M ercy of the Jungl
After Clayton had plunged into the jungl
the sailors-mutineers of the Arrow-fell into
discussion of their next step; but on one point a
were agreed-that they should hasten to put off
the anchored Arrow, where they could at least bsafe from the spears of their unseen foe. And s
while Jane Porter and Esmeralda we
barricading themselves within the cabin, th
cowardly crew of cutthroats were pulling rapidfor their ship in the two boats that had brougthem ashore.
So much had Tarzan seen that day that h
head was in a whirl of wonder. But the mo
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wonderful sight of all, to him, was the face of th
beautiful white girl.
Here at last was one of his own kind; of th
he was positive. And the young man and the twold men; they, too, were much as he had pictur
his own people to be.
But doubtless they were as ferocious and cru
as other men he had seen. The fact that thalone of all the party were unarmed mig
account for the fact that they had killed no on
They might be very different if provided wi
weapons.
Tarzan had seen the young man pick up thfallen revolver of the wounded Snipes and hide
away in his breast; and he had also seen him sl
it cautiously to the girl as she entered the cab
door.
He did not understand anything of the motiv
behind all that he had seen; but, somehow
intuitively he liked the young man and the tw
old men, and for the girl he had a strange longin
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which he scarcely understood. As for the b
black woman, she was evidently connected
some way to the girl, and so he liked her, also.
For the sailors, and especially Snipes, he hadeveloped a great hatred. He knew by the
threatening gestures and by the expression upo
their evil faces that they were enemies of t
others of the party, and so he decided to watclosely.
Tarzan wondered why the men had gone in
the jungle, nor did it ever occur to him that on
could become lost in that maze of undergrow
which to him was as simple as is the main streof your own home town to you.
When he saw the sailors row away toward t
ship, and knew that the girl and her companio
were safe in his cabin, Tarzan decided to follo
the young man into the jungle and learn what h
errand might be. He swung off rapidly in t
direction taken by Clayton, and in a short tim
heard faintly in the distance the now on
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occasional calls of the Englishman to his friend
Presently Tarzan came up with the white ma
who, almost fagged, was leaning against a tr
wiping the perspiration from his forehead. Tape-man, hiding safe behind a screen of foliag
sat watching this new specimen of his own ra
intently.
At intervals Clayton called aloud and finallycame to Tarzan that he was searching for the o
man.
Tarzan was on the point of going off to loo
for them himself, when he caught the yello
glint of a sleek hide moving cautiously througthe jungle toward Clayton.
It was Sheeta, the leopard. Now, Tarzan hea
the soft bending of grasses and wondered wh
the young white man was not warned. Could
be he had failed to note the loud warning? Nev
before had Tarzan known Sheeta to be so clum
No, the white man did not hear. Sheeta w
crouching for the spring, and then, shrill an
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horrible, there rose from the stillness of t
jungle the awful cry of the challenging ape, a
Sheeta turned, crashing into the underbrush.
Clayton came to his feet with a start. His blooran cold. Never in all his life had so fearful
sound smote upon his ears. He was no cowar
but if ever man felt the icy fingers of fear upo
his heart, William Cecil Clayton, eldest son Lord Greystoke of England, did that day in th
fastness of the African jungle.
The noise of some great body crashin
through the underbrush so close beside him, an
the sound of that bloodcurdling shriek froabove, tested Clayton's courage to the limit; b
he could not know that it was to that very voi
he owed his life, nor that the creature who hurle
it forth was his own cousin-the real Lo
Greystoke.
The afternoon was drawing to a close, an
Clayton, disheartened and discouraged, was in
terrible quandary as to the proper course
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pursue; whether to keep on in search of Profess
Porter, at the almost certain risk of his own dea
in the jungle by night, or to return to the cab
where he might at least serve to protect Jafrom the perils which confronted her on all side
He did not wish to return to camp without h
father; still more, he shrank from the thought
leaving her alone and unprotected in the hands the mutineers of the Arrow, or to the hundre
unknown dangers of the jungle.
Possibly, too, he thought, the professor an
Philander might have returned to camp. Yes, th
was more than likely. At least he would retuand see, before he continued what seemed to be
most fruitless quest. And so he started, stumblin
back through the thick and matted underbrush
the direction that he thought the cabin lay.
To Tarzan's surprise the young man w
heading further into the jungle in the gener
direction of Mbonga's village, and the shrew
young ape-man was convinced that he was lost.
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To Tarzan this was scarcely incomprehensibl
his judgment told him that no man would ventu
toward the village of the cruel blacks armed on
with a spear which, from the awkward way which he carried it, was evidently
unaccustomed weapon to this white man. N
was he following the trail of the old men. Th
they had crossed and left long since, though had been fresh and plain before Tarzan's eyes.
Tarzan was perplexed. The fierce jung
would make easy prey of this unprotect
stranger in a very short time if he were n
guided quickly to the beach.Yes, there was Numa, the lion, even now
stalking the white man a dozen paces to the righ
Clayton heard the great body paralleling h
course, and now there rose upon the evening a
the beast's thunderous roar. The man stopp
with upraised spear and faced the brush fro
which issued the awful sound.
The shadows were deepening, darkness w
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settling in.
God! To die here alone, beneath the fangs
wild beasts; to be torn and rended; to feel the h
breath of the brute on his face as the great pacrushed down up his breast!
For a moment all was still. Clayton stood rig
with raised spear.
Presently a faint rustling of the bush apprisehim of the stealthy creeping of the thing behin
It was gathering for the spring. At last he saw
not twenty feet away-the long, lithe, muscul
body and tawny head of a huge black-maned lio
The beast was upon its belly, moving forwavery slowly. As its eyes met Clayton's it stoppe
and deliberately, cautiously gathered its hin
quarters behind it.
In agony the man watched, fearful to laun
his spear, powerless to fly.
He heard a noise in the tree above him. Som
new danger, he thought, but he dared not take h
eyes from the yellow green orbs before him.
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There was a sharp twang as of a broken banj
string, and at the same instant an arrow appear
in the yellow hide of the crouching lion.
With a roar of pain and anger the beast spranbut, somehow, Clayton stumbled to one side, an
as he turned again to face the infuriated king
beasts, he was appalled at the sight whi
confronted him.Almost simultaneously with the lion's turnin
to renew the attack a half-naked giant dropp
from the tree above squarely on the brute's back
With lightning speed an arm that was bande
layers of iron muscle encircled the huge necand the great beast was raised from behin
roaring and pawing the air-raised as easily
Clayton would have lifted a pet dog.
The scene he witnessed there in the twilig
depths of the African jungle was burned forev
into the Englishman's brain.
The man before him was the embodiment
physical perfection and giant strength; yet it w
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not upon these he depended in his battle with t
great cat, for mighty as were his muscles, th
were as nothing by comparison with Numa's. T
his agility, to his brain and to his long keen knihe owed his supremacy.
His right arm encircled the lion's neck, whi
the left hand plunged the knife time and aga
into the unprotected side behind the left shouldeThe infuriated beast, pulled up and backwar
until he stood upon his hind legs, struggle
impotently in this unnatural position.
Had the battle been of a few seconds' long
duration the outcome might have been differenbut it was all accomplished so quickly that t
lion had scarce time to recover from t
confusion of its surprise ere it sank lifeless to th
ground.
Then the strange figure which had vanquishe
it stood erect upon the carcass, and throwin
back the wild and handsome head, gave out th
fearsome cry which a few moments earlier h
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so startled Clayton.
Before him he saw the figure of a young ma
naked except for a loin cloth and a few barbar
ornaments about arms and legs; on the breastpriceless diamond locket gleaming against
smooth brown skin.
The hunting knife had been returned to
homely sheath, and the man was gathering up hbow and quiver from where he had tossed the
when he leaped to attack the lion.
Clayton spoke to the stranger in Englis
thanking him for his brave rescue an
complimenting him on the wondrous strengand dexterity he had displayed, but the on
answer was a steady stare and a faint shrug of th
mighty shoulders, which might betoken eith
disparagement of the service rendered,
ignorance of Clayton's language.
When the bow and quiver had been slung
his back the wild man, for such Clayton no
thought him, once more drew his knife and deft
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carved a dozen large strips of meat from th
lion's carcass. Then, squatting upon his haunch
he proceeded to eat, first motioning Clayton
join him.The strong white teeth sank into the raw an
dripping flesh in apparent relish of the meal, b
Clayton could not bring himself to share t
uncooked meat with his strange host; instead watched him, and presently there dawned upo
him the conviction that this was Tarzan of th
Apes, whose notice he had seen posted upon th
cabin door that morning.
If so he must speak English.Again Clayton attempted speech with the ap
man; but the replies, now vocal, were in
strange tongue, which resembled the chatterin
of monkeys mingled with the growling of som
wild beast.
No, this could not be Tarzan of the Apes, for
was very evident that he was an utter stranger
English.
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When Tarzan had completed his repast he ro
and, pointing a very different direction from th
which Clayton had been pursuing, started o
through the jungle toward the point he haindicated.
Clayton, bewildered and confused, hesitated
follow him, for he thought he was but being le
more deeply into the mazes of the forest; but thape-man, seeing him disinclined to follow
returned, and, grasping him by the coat, dragg
him along until he was convinced that Clayto
understood what was required of him. Then h
left him to follow voluntarily.The Englishman, finally concluding that h
was a prisoner, saw no alternative open but
accompany his captor, and thus they travele
slowly through the jungle while the sable mant
of the impenetrable forest night fell about them
and the stealthy footfalls of padded paw
mingled with the breaking of twigs and the wi
calls of the savage life that Clayton felt closin
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in upon him.
Suddenly Clayton heard the faint report of
firearm-a single shot, and then silence.
In the cabin by the beach two thoroughterrified women clung to each other as th
crouched upon the low bench in the gatherin
darkness.
The Negress sobbed hysterically, bemoaninthe evil day that had witnessed her departu
from her dear Maryland, while the white girl, d
eyed and outwardly calm, was torn by inwa
fears and forebodings.
She feared not more for herself than for ththree men whom she knew to be wandering
the abysmal depths of the savage jungle, fro
which she now heard issuing the almo
incessant shrieks and roars, barkings an
growlings of its terrifying and fearsome denize
as they sought their prey.
And now there came the sound of a heav
body brushing against the side of the cabin. Sh
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could hear the great padded paws upon t
ground outside. For an instant, all was silenc
even the bedlam of the forest died to a fai
murmur. Then she distinctly heard the beaoutside sniffing at the door, not two feet fro
where she crouched.
Instinctively the girl shuddered, and shran
closer to the black woman."Hush!" she whispered. "Hush, Esmeralda
for the woman's sobs and groans seemed to hav
attracted the thing that stalked there just beyon
the thin wall.
A gentle scratching sound was heard on thdoor. The brute tried to force an entrance; b
presently this ceased, and again she heard th
great pads creeping stealthily around the cabi
Again they stopped-beneath the window o
which the terrified eyes of the girl now glue
themselves.
"God!" she murmured, for now, silhouett
against the moonlit sky beyond, she saw frame
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in the tiny square of the latticed window the he
of a huge lioness. The gleaming eyes were fixe
upon her in intent ferocity.
"Look, Esmeralda!" she whispered. "For Godsake, what shall we do?
Look! Quick! The window!"
Esmeralda, cowering still closer to h
mistress, took one frightened glance toward thlittle square of moonlight, just as the lione
emitted a low, savage snarl.
The sight that met the poor woman's eyes w
too much for the already overstrung nerves.
"Oh, Gaberelle!" she shrieked, and slid to thfloor an inert and senseless mass.
For what seemed an eternity the great bru
stood with its forepaws upon the sill, glaring in
the little room. Presently it tried the strength
the lattice with its great talons.
The girl had almost ceased to breathe, whe
to her relief, the head disappeared and she hea
the brute's footsteps leaving the window.
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But now they came to the door again, and on
more the scratching commenced; this time wi
increasing force until the great beast was tearin
at the massive panels in a perfect frenzy eagerness to seize its defenseless victims.
Could Jane have known the immense streng
of that door, built piece by piece, she would hav
felt less fear of the lioness reaching her by thavenue.
Little did John Clayton imagine when h
fashioned that crude but mighty portal that o
day, twenty years later, it would shield a fa
American girl, then unborn, from the teeth antalons of a man-eater.
For fully twenty minutes the brute alternate
sniffed and tore at the door, occasionally givin
voice to a wild, savage cry of baffled rage.
At length, however, she gave up the attemp
and Jane heard her returning toward the window
beneath which she paused for an instant, an
then launched her great weight against th
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timeworn lattice.
The girl heard the wooden rods groan benea
the impact; but they held, and the huge bod
dropped back to the ground below.Again and again the lioness repeated the
tactics, until finally the horrified prisoner with
saw a portion of the lattice give way, and in
instant one great paw and the head of the animwere thrust within the room.
Slowly the powerful neck and shoulders spre
the bars apart, and the lithe body protruded farth
and farther into the room.
As in a trance, the girl rose, her hand upon hbreast, wide eyes staring horror-stricken into t
snarling face of the beast scarce ten feet from her. A
her feet lay the prostrate form of the Negress. If s
could but arouse her, their combined efforts mig
possibly avail to beat back the fierce an
bloodthirsty intruder.
Jane stooped to grasp the black woman by t
shoulder. Roughly she shook her.
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"Esmeralda! Esmeralda!" she cried. "Help me,
we are lost."
Esmeralda opened her eyes. The first object th
encountered was the dripping fangs of the hunglioness.
With a horrified scream the poor woman rose
her hands and knees, and in this position scurri
across the room, shrieking: "O Gaberelle! Gaberelle!" at the top of her lungs.
Esmeralda weighed some two hundred and eigh
pounds, and her extreme haste, added to her extrem
corpulency, produced a most amazing result wh
Esmeralda elected to travel on all fours.For a moment the lioness remained quiet wi
intense gaze directed upon the flitting Esmerald
whose goal appeared to be the cupboard, into whi
she attempted to propel her huge bulk; but as t
shelves were but nine or ten inches apart, she on
succeeded in getting her head in; whereupon, with
final screech, which paled the jungle noises in
insignificance, she fainted once again.
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temporary retreat.
In another instant she was back at the lattice, an
with renewed fury was clawing at the aperture, b
with lessened effect, since the wounded membwas almost useless.
She saw her prey-the two women-lying sensele
upon the floor. There was no longer any resistan
to be overcome. Her meat lay before her, and Sabhad only to worm her way through the lattice
claim it.
Slowly she forced her great bulk, inch by inc
through the opening.
Now her head was through, now one greforearm and shoulder.
Carefully she drew up the wounded member
insinuate it gently beyond the tight pressing bars.
A moment more and both shoulders through, t
long, sinuous body and the narrow hips would gli
quickly after.
It was on this sight that Jane Porter again open
her eyes.
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Chapter XV The Forest G od
When Clayton heard the report of t
firearm he fell into an agony of fear an
apprehension. He knew that one of the sailo
might be the author of it; but the fact that he haleft the revolver with Jane, together with t
overwrought condition of his nerves, made hi
morbidly positive that she was threatened wi
some great danger.
Perhaps even now she was attempting defend herself against some savage man or beas
What were the thoughts of his strange capt
or guide Clayton could only vaguely conjectur
but that he had heard the shot and was in som
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manner affected by it was quite evident, for
quickened his pace so appreciably that Clayto
stumbling blindly in his wake, was down a doz
times in as many minutes in a vain effort to kepace with him, and soon was left hopeless
behind.
Fearing that he would again be irretrievab
lost, he called aloud to the wild man ahead him, and in a moment had the satisfaction
seeing him drop lightly to his side from th
branches above.
For a moment Tarzan looked at the young ma
closely, as though undecided as to just what wbest to do; then, stooping down before Clayto
he motioned him to grasp him about the nec
and, with the white man upon his back, Tarz
took to the trees.
The next few minutes the young Englishm
never forgot. High into bending and swayin
branches he was borne with what seemed to hi
incredible swiftness, while Tarzan chafed at t
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slowness of his progress.
From one lofty branch the agile creatu
swung with Clayton through a dizzy arc to
neighboring tree; then for a hundred yards maybthe sure feet threaded a maze of interwove
limbs, balancing like a tightrope walker hig
above the black depths of verdure beneath.
From the first sensation of chilling feClayton passed to one of keen admiration an
envy of those giant muscles and that wondro
instinct or knowledge which guided this fore
god through the inky blackness of the night
easily and safely as Clayton would have strolla London street at high noon.
Occasionally they would enter a spot whe
the foliage above was less dense, and the brig
rays of the moon lit up before Clayton
wondering eyes the strange path they we
traversing.
At such times the man fairly caught his brea
at sight of the horrid depths below them, f
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Tarzan took the easiest way, which often le
over a hundred feet above the earth.
And yet with all his seeming speed, Tarz
was in reality feeling his way with comparativslowness, searching constantly for limbs
adequate strength for the maintenance of th
double weight.
Presently they came to the clearing before thbeach. Tarzan's quick ears had heard the stran
sounds of Sabor's efforts to force her w
through the lattice, and it seemed to Clayton th
they dropped a straight hundred feet to earth,
quickly did Tarzan descend. Yet when thstruck the ground it was with scarce a jar; and
Clayton released his hold on the ape-man he sa
him dart like a squirrel for the opposite side
the cabin.
The Englishman sprang quickly after him ju
in time to see the hind quarters of some hug
animal about to disappear through the window
the cabin.
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As Jane opened her eyes to a realization of th
imminent peril which threatened her, her brav
young heart gave up at last its final vestige
hope. But then to her surprise she saw the huganimal being slowly drawn back through th
window, and in the moonlight beyond she sa
the heads and shoulders of two men.
As Clayton rounded the corner of the cabin behold the animal disappearing within, it w
also to see the ape-man seize the long tail in bo
hands, and, bracing himself with his feet again
the side of the cabin, throw all his migh
strength into the effort to draw the beast out the interior.
Clayton was quick to lend a hand, but the ap
man jabbered to him in a commanding an
peremptory tone something which Clayton kne
to be orders, though he could not understan
them.
At last, under their combined efforts, the gre
body was slowly dragged farther and farth
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outside the window, and then there came
Clayton's mind a dawning conception of the ra
bravery of his companion's act.
For a naked man to drag a shrieking, clawinman-eater forth from a window by the tail
save a strange white girl, was indeed the la
word in heroism.
Insofar as Clayton was concerned it was a vedifferent matter, since the girl was not only of h
own kind and race, but was the one woman in a
the world whom he loved.
Though he knew that the lioness would mak
short work of both of them, he pulled with a wto keep it from Jane Porter. And then he recalle
the battle between this man and the great, blac
maned lion which he had witnessed a short tim
before, and he commenced to feel mo
assurance.
Tarzan was still issuing orders which Clayto
could not understand.
He was trying to tell the stupid white man
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plunge his poisoned arrows into Sabor's back an
sides, and to reach the savage heart with the lon
thin hunting knife that hung at Tarzan's hip; b
the man would not understand, and Tarzan dnot dare release his hold to do the things himse
for he knew that the puny white man never cou
hold mighty Sabor alone, for an instant.
Slowly the lioness was emerging from twindow. At last her shoulders were out.
And then Clayton saw an incredible thin
Tarzan, racking his brains for some means
cope single-handed with the infuriated beast, h
suddenly recalled his battle with Terkoz; and the great shoulders came clear of the window,
that the lioness hung upon the sill only by h
forepaws, Tarzan suddenly released his ho
upon the brute.
With the quickness of a striking rattler
launched himself full upon Sabor's back, h
strong young arms seeking and gaining a fu
Nelson upon the beast, as he had learned it th
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other day during his bloody, wrestling victo
over Terkoz.
With a roar the lioness turned completely ov
upon her back, falling full upon her enemy; bthe black-haired giant only closed tighter h
hold.
Pawing and tearing at earth and air, Sab
rolled and threw herself this way and that in effort to dislodge this strange antagonist; b
ever tighter and tighter drew the iron bands th
were forcing her head lower and lower upon h
tawny breast.
Higher crept the steel forearms of the ape-mabout the back of Sabor's neck. Weaker an
weaker became the lioness's efforts.
At last Clayton saw the immense muscles
Tarzan's shoulders and biceps leap into cord
knots beneath the silver moonlight. There was
long sustained and supreme effort on the ap
man's part-and the vertebrae of Sabor's nec
parted with a sharp snap.
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In an instant Tarzan was upon his feet, and f
the second time that day Clayton heard the bu
ape's savage roar of victory. Then he heard Jane
agonized cry:"Cecil-Mr. Clayton! Oh, what is it? What
it?"
Running quickly to the cabin door, Clayto
called out that all was right, and shouted to her open the door. As quickly as she could she raise
the great bar and fairly dragged Clayton within.
"What was that awful noise?" she whispere
shrinking close to him.
"It was the cry of the kill from the throat of tman who has just saved your life, Miss Porte
Wait, I will fetch him so you may thank him."
The frightened girl would not be left alone,
she accompanied Clayton to the side of the cab
where lay the dead body of the lioness.
Tarzan of the Apes was gone.
Clayton called several times, but there was n
reply, and so the two returned to the great
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safety of the interior.
"What a frightful sound!" cried Jane,
shudder at the mere thought of it. Do not tell m
that a human throat voiced that hideous anfearsome shriek."
"But it did, Miss Porter," replied Clayton; "
at least if not a human throat that of a fore
god."And then he told her of his experiences wi
this strange creature-of how twice the wild ma
had saved his life-of the wondrous strength, an
agility, and bravery-of the brown skin and th
handsome face."I cannot make it out at all," he concluded. "A
first I thought he might be Tarzan of the Ape
but he neither speaks nor understands English,
that theory is untenable."
"Well, whatever he may be," cried the gi
"we owe him our lives, and may God bless hi
and keep him in safety in his wild and savag
jungle!"
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"Amen," said Clayton, fervently.
"For the good Lord's sake, ain't I dead?"
The two turned to see Esmeralda sittin
upright upon the floor, her great eyes rollinfrom side to side as though she could not believ
their testimony as to her whereabouts.
And now, for Jane Porter, the reaction cam
and she threw herself upon the bench, sobbinwith hysterical laughter.
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combined intellects must have been concentrat
upon the vital question of the minute-the lif
and-death question to them of retracing the
steps to camp.Samuel T. Philander was speaking.
"But, my dear professor," he was saying,
still maintain that but for the victories
Ferdinand and Isabella over the fifteenth-centuMoors in Spain the world would be today
thousand years in advance of where we now fin
ourselves. The Moors were essentially a toleran
broad-minded, liberal race of agriculturis
artisans and merchants-the very type of peopthat has made possible such civilization as w
find today in America and Europe-while th
Spaniards-"
"Tut, tut, dear Mr. Philander," interrupt
Professor Porter; "their religion positive
precluded the possibilities you sugge
Moslemism was, is, and always will be, a blig
on that scientific progress which has marked-"
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"Bless me! Professor," interjected M
Philander, who had turned his gaze toward th
jungle, "there seems to be som
approaching."Professor Archimedes Q. Porter turned in th
direction indicated by the nearsighted M
Philander.
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander," he chided. "Hooften must I urge you to seek that absolu
concentration of your mental faculties whi
alone may permit you to bring to bear the highe
powers of intellectuality upon the momento
problems which naturally fall to the lot of greminds? And now I find you guilty of a mo
flagrant breach of courtesy in interrupting m
learned discourse to call attention to a me
quadruped of the genus FELIS. As I was sayin
Mr.-"
"Heavens, Professor, a lion?" cried M
Philander, straining his weak eyes toward th
dim figure outlined against the dark tropic
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underbrush.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Philander, if you insist upo
employing slang in your discourse, a 'lion.' B
as I was saying-""Bless me, Professor," again interrupted M
Philander; "permit me to suggest that doubtle
the Moors who were conquered in the fifteen
century will continue in that most regrettabcondition for the time being at least, even thoug
we postpone discussion of that world calami
until we may attain the enchanting view of yo
FELIS CARNIVORA which distan
proverbially is credited with lending."In the meantime the lion had approached wi
quiet dignity to within ten paces of the two me
where he stood curiously watching them.
The moonlight flooded the beach, and th
strange group stood out in bold relief against t
yellow sand.
"Most reprehensible, most reprehensible
exclaimed Professor Porter, with a faint trace
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irritation in his voice. "Never, Mr. Philande
never before in my life have I known one
these animals to be permitted to roam at larg
from its cage. I shall most certainly report thoutrageous breach of ethics to the directors of th
adjacent zoological garden."
"Quite right, Professor," agreed Mr. Philande
"and the sooner it is done the better. Let us stanow."
Seizing the professor by the arm, M
Philander set off in the direction that would p
the greatest distance between themselves and th
lion.They had proceeded but a short distance wh
a backward glance revealed to the horrified ga
of Mr. Philander that the lion was followin
them. He tightened his grip upon the protestin
professor and increased his speed.
"As I was saying, Mr. Philander," repeate
Professor Porter.
Mr. Philander took another hasty glan
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rearward. The lion also had quickened his ga
and was doggedly maintaining an unvaryin
distance behind them.
"He is following us!" gasped Mr. Philandebreaking into a run.
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander," remonstrated t
professor, "this unseemly haste is mo
unbecoming to men of letters. What will ofriends think of us, who may chance to be upo
the street and witness our frivolous antics? Pr
let us proceed with more decorum."
Mr. Philander stole another observation aster
The lion was bounding along in easy leascarce five paces behind.
Mr. Philander dropped the professor's arm, an
broke into a mad orgy of speed that would ha
done credit to any varsity track team.
"As I was saying, Mr. Philander-" screame
Professor Porter, as, metaphorically speaking, h
himself "threw her into high." He, too, h
caught a fleeting backward glimpse of cru
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yellow eyes and half open mouth within startlin
proximity of his person.
With streaming coat tails and shiny silk h
Professor Archimedes Q.Porter fled through the moonlight close upo
the heels of Mr. Samuel T.
Philander.
Before them a point of the jungle ran otoward a narrow promontory, and it was for t
heaven of the trees he saw there that Mr. Samu
T.
Philander directed his prodigious leaps an
bounds; while from the shadows of this samspot peered two keen eyes in interest
appreciation of the race.
It was Tarzan of the Apes who watched, wi
face a-grin, this odd game of follow-the-leader.
He knew the two men were safe enough fro
attack in so far as the lion was concerned. Th
very fact that Numa had foregone such easy pr
at all convinced the wise forest craft of Tarz
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that Numa's belly already was full.
The lion might stalk them until hungry agai
but the chances were that if not angered h
would soon tire of the sport, and slink away his jungle lair.
Really, the one great danger was that one
the men might stumble and fall, and then th
yellow devil would be upon him in a momeand the joy of the kill would be too great
temptation to withstand.
So Tarzan swung quickly to a lower limb
line with the approaching fugitives; and as M
Samuel T. Philander came panting and blowinbeneath him, already too spent to struggle up
the safety of the limb, Tarzan reached down an
grasping him by the collar of his coat, yanke
him to the limb by his side.
Another moment brought the professor with
the sphere of the friendly grip, and he, too, w
drawn upward to safety just as the baffled Num
with a roar, leaped to recover his vanishin
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quarry.
For a moment the two men clung panting
the great branch, while Tarzan squatted with h
back to the stem of the tree, watching them wimingled curiosity and amusement.
It was the professor who first broke the silen
"I am deeply pained, Mr. Philander, that yo
should have evinced such a paucity of mancourage in the presence of one of the low
orders, and by your crass timidity have cause
me to exert myself to such an unaccustom
degree in order that I might resume my discour
As I was saying, Mr. Philander, when yointerrupted me, the Moors-"
"Professor Archimedes Q. Porter," broke
Mr. Philander, in icy tones,
"the time has arrived when patience becomes
crime and mayhem appears garbed in the mant
of virtue. You have accused me of cowardic
You have insinuated that you ran only
overtake me, not to escape the clutches of th
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lion. Have a care, Professor Archimedes Q
Porter! I am a desperate man. Goaded by lon
suffering patience the worm will turn."
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander, tut, tut!" cautioneProfessor Porter; "you forget yourself."
"I forget nothing as yet, Professor Archimed
Q. Porter; but, believe me, sir, I am tottering o
the verge of forgetfulness as to your exalteposition in the world of science, and your gr
hairs."
The professor sat in silence for a few minute
and the darkness hid the grim smile th
wreathed his wrinkled countenance. Presently hspoke.
"Look here, Skinny Philander," he said,
belligerent tones, "if you are lookin' for a scra
peel off your coat and come on down on th
ground, and I'll punch your head just as I d
sixty years ago in the alley back of Porky Evan
barn."
"Ark!" gasped the astonished Mr. Philande
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"Lordy, how good that sounds! When you'
human, Ark, I love you; but somehow it seems
though you had forgotten how to be human f
the last twenty years."The professor reached out a thin, trembling o
hand through the darkness until it found his o
friend's shoulder.
"Forgive me, Skinny," he said, softly. "hasn't been quite twenty years, and God alon
knows how hard I have tried to be 'human' f
Jane's sake, and yours, too, since He took m
other Jane away."
Another old hand stole up from MPhilander's side to clasp the one that lay upon h
shoulder, and no other message could better hav
translated the one heart to the other.
They did not speak for some minutes. The lio
below them paced nervously back and forth. Th
third figure in the tree was hidden by the den
shadows near the stem. He, too, was silen
motionless as a graven image.
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"You certainly pulled me up into this tree ju
in time," said the professor at last. "I want
thank you. You saved my life."
"But I didn't pull you up here, Professor," saMr. Philander. "Bless me! The excitement of t
moment quite caused me to forget that I myse
was drawn up here by some outside agency-the
must be someone or something in this tree wius."
"Eh?" ejaculated Professor Porter. "Are yo
quite positive, Mr.
Philander?"
"Most positive, Professor," replied MPhilander, "and," he added, "I think we shou
thank the party. He may be sitting right next
you now, Professor."
"Eh? What's that? Tut, tut, Mr. Philander, tu
tut!" said Professor Porter, edging cautious
nearer to Mr. Philander.
Just then it occurred to Tarzan of the Apes th
Numa had loitered beneath the tree for
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sufficient length of time, so he raised his youn
head toward the heavens, and there rang o
upon the terrified ears of the two old men th
awful warning challenge of the anthropoid.The two friends, huddled trembling in the
precarious position on the limb, saw the gre
lion halt in his restless pacing as the bloo
curdling cry smote his ears, and then slinquickly into the jungle, to be instantly lost
view.
"Even the lion trembles in fear," whispered M
Philander.
"Most remarkable, most remarkablemurmured Professor Porter, clutching frantical
at Mr. Philander to regain the balance which t
sudden fright had so perilously endangere
Unfortunately for them both, Mr. Philande
center of equilibrium was at that very mome
hanging upon the ragged edge of nothing, so th
it needed but the gentle impetus supplied by th
additional weight of Professor Porter's body
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topple the devoted secretary from the limb.
For a moment they swayed uncertainly, an
then, with mingled and most unscholarly shriek
they pitched headlong from the tree, locked frenzied embrace.
It was quite some moments ere either move
for both were positive that any such attem
would reveal so many breaks and fractures as make further progress impossible.
At length Professor Porter made an attempt
move one leg. To his surprise, it responded to h
will as in days gone by. He now drew up its ma
and stretched it forth again."Most remarkable, most remarkable," h
murmured.
"Thank God, Professor," whispered M
Philander, fervently, "you are not dead, then?"
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander, tut, tut," cautione
Professor Porter, "I do not know with accura
as yet."
With infinite solicitude Professor Port
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wiggled his right arm-joy!
It was intact. Breathlessly he waved his le
arm above his prostrate body-it waved!
"Most remarkable, most remarkable," he said"To whom are you signaling, Professor
asked Mr. Philander, in an excited tone.
Professor Porter deigned to make no respon
to this puerile inquiry.Instead he raised his head gently from th
ground, nodding it back and forth a half doz
times.
"Most remarkable," he breathed. "It remai
intact."Mr. Philander had not moved from where
had fallen; he had not dared the attempt. Ho
indeed could one move when one's arms and le
and back were broken?
One eye was buried in the soft loam; the othe
rolling sidewise, was fixed in awe upon th
strange gyrations of Professor Porter.
"How sad!" exclaimed Mr. Philander, ha
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aloud. "Concussion of the brain, superinducin
total mental aberration. How very sad indee
and for one still so young!"
Professor Porter rolled over upon his stomacgingerly he bowed his back until he resembled
huge tom cat in proximity to a yelping dog.
Then he sat up and felt of various portions
his anatomy."They are all here," he exclaimed. "Mo
remarkable!"
Whereupon he arose, and, bending a scathin
glance upon the still prostrate form of M
Samuel T. Philander, he said:"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander; this is no time
indulge in slothful ease.
We must be up and doing."
Mr. Philander lifted his other eye out of t
mud and gazed in speechless rage at Profess
Porter. Then he attempted to rise; nor could the
have been any more surprised than he when h
efforts were immediately crowned with marke
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success.
He was still bursting with rage, however,
the cruel injustice of Professor Porte
insinuation, and was on the point of renderingtart rejoinder when his eyes fell upon a stran
figure standing a few paces away, scrutinizin
them intently.
Professor Porter had recovered his shiny sihat, which he had brushed carefully upon th
sleeve of his coat and replaced upon his hea
When he saw Mr. Philander pointing
something behind him he turned to behold
giant, naked but for a loin cloth and a few metornaments, standing motionless before him.
"Good evening, sir!" said the professor, liftin
his hat.
For reply the giant motioned them to follo
him, and set off up the beach in the directio
from which they had recently come.
"I think it the better part of discretion to follo
him," said Mr.
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Philander.
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander," returned t
professor. "A short time since you we
advancing a most logical argument substantiation of your theory that camp la
directly south of us. I was skeptical, but yo
finally convinced me; so now I am positive th
toward the south we must travel to reach ofriends. Therefore I shall continue south."
"But, Professor Porter, this man may kno
better than either of us. He seems to b
indigenous to this part of the world. Let us
least follow him for a short distance.""Tut, tut, Mr. Philander," repeated th
professor. "I am a difficult man to convince, b
when once convinced my decision is unalterabl
I shall continue in the proper direction, if I ha
to circumambulate the continent of Africa
reach my destination."
Further argument was interrupted by Tarza
who, seeing that these strange men were n
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following him, had returned to their side.
Again he beckoned to them; but still the
stood in argument.
Presently the ape-man lost patience with thestupid ignorance. He grasped the frightened M
Philander by the shoulder, and before that worth
gentleman knew whether he was being killed
merely maimed for life, Tarzan had tied one enof his rope securely about Mr.
Philander's neck.
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander," remonstrat
Professor Porter; "it is most unbeseeming in yo
to submit to such indignities."But scarcely were the words out of his mou
ere he, too, had been seized and securely boun
by the neck with the same rope. Then Tarzan s
off toward the north, leading the now thorough
frightened professor and his secretary.
In deathly silence they proceeded for wh
seemed hours to the two tired and hopeless o
men; but presently as they topped a little rise
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ground they were overjoyed to see the cab
lying before them, not a hundred yards distant.
Here Tarzan released them, and, pointin
toward the little building, vanished into thjungle beside them.
"Most remarkable, most remarkable!" gasp
the professor. "But you see, Mr. Philander, tha
was quite right, as usual; and but for yostubborn willfulness we should have escaped
series of most humiliating, not to say dangero
accidents. Pray allow yourself to be guided by
more mature and practical mind hereafter wh
in need of wise counsel."Mr. Samuel T. Philander was too mu
relieved at the happy outcome to their adventu
to take umbrage at the professor's cruel fling.
Instead he grasped his friend's arm an
hastened him forward in the direction of th
cabin.
It was a much-relieved party of castaways th
found itself once more united. Dawn discovere
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them still recounting their various adventures an
speculating upon the identity of the strang
guardian and protector they had found on th
savage shore.Esmeralda was positive that it was none oth
than an angel of the Lord, sent down especial
to watch over them.
"Had you seen him devour the raw meat of thlion, Esmeralda," laughed Clayton, "you wou
have thought him a very material angel."
"There was nothing heavenly about his voice
said Jane Porter, with a little shudder
recollection of the awful roar which hafollowed the killing of the lioness.
"Nor did it precisely comport with m
preconceived ideas of the dignity of divin
messengers," remarked Professor Porter, "wh
the-ah-gentleman tied two highly respectable an
erudite scholars neck to neck and dragged the
through the jungle as though they had be
cows."
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Chapter XVII B urials
As it was now quite light, the party, none
whom had eaten or slept since the previo
morning, began to bestir themselves to prepa
food.The mutineers of the Arrow had landed
small supply of dried meats, canned soups an
vegetables, crackers, flour, tea, and coffee for t
five they had marooned, and these were hurried
drawn upon to satisfy the craving of lonfamished appetites.
The next task was to make the cabin habitabl
and to this end it was decided to at once remov
the gruesome relics of the tragedy which ha
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taken place there on some bygone day.
Professor Porter and Mr. Philander we
deeply interested in examining the skeletons. T
two larger, they stated, had belonged to a maand female of one of the higher white races.
The smallest skeleton was given but passin
attention, as its location, in the crib, left no dou
as to its having been the infant offspring of thunhappy couple.
As they were preparing the skeleton of th
man for burial, Clayton discovered a massiv
ring which had evidently encircled the man
finger at the time of his death, for one of thslender bones of the hand still lay within th
golden bauble.
Picking it up to examine it, Clayton gave a c
of astonishment, for the ring bore the crest of t
house of Greystoke.
At the same time, Jane discovered the books
the cupboard, and on opening the fly-leaf of on
of them saw the name, JOHN CLAYTON
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LONDON.
In a second book which she hurried
examined was the single name, GREYSTOKE.
"Why, Mr. Clayton," she cried, "what dothis mean? Here are the names of some of yo
own people in these books."
"And here," he replied gravely, "is the gre
ring of the house of Greystoke which has belost since my uncle, John Clayton, the form
Lord Greystoke, disappeared, presumably lost
sea."
"But how do you account for these thin
being here, in this savage African jungleexclaimed the girl.
"There is but one way to account for it, Mi
Porter," said Clayton.
"The late Lord Greystoke was not drowne
He died here in this cabin and this poor thin
upon the floor is all that is mortal of him."
"Then this must have been Lady Greystoke
said Jane reverently, indicating the poor mass
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bones upon the bed.
"The beautiful Lady Alice," replied Clayto
"of whose many virtues and remarkable person
charms I often have heard my mother and fathspeak. Poor woman," he murmured sadly.
With deep reverence and solemnity the bodi
of the late Lord and Lady Greystoke were burie
beside their little African cabin, and betwethem was placed the tiny skeleton of the baby
Kala, the ape.
As Mr. Philander was placing the frail bon
of the infant in a bit of sail cloth, he examin
the skull minutely. Then he called ProfessPorter to his side, and the two argued in lo
tones for several minutes.
"Most remarkable, most remarkable," sa
Professor Porter.
"Bless me," said Mr. Philander, "we mu
acquaint Mr. Clayton with our discovery
once."
"Tut, tut, Mr. Philander, tut, tut!" remonstrat
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Professor Archimedes Q. Porter. "'Let the de
past bury its dead.'"
And so the white-haired old man repeated th
burial service over this strange grave, while hfour companions stood with bowed an
uncovered heads about him.
From the trees Tarzan of the Apes watched th
solemn ceremony; but most of all he watched thsweet face and graceful figure of Jane Porter.
In his savage, untutored breast new emotio
were stirring. He could not fathom them. H
wondered why he felt so great an interest in the
people-why he had gone to such pains to save ththree men. But he did not wonder why he h
torn Sabor from the tender flesh of the strang
girl.
Surely the men were stupid and ridiculous an
cowardly. Even Manu, the monkey, was mo
intelligent than they. If these were creatures
his own kind he was doubtful if his past pride
blood was warranted.
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But the girl, ah-that was a different matter. H
did not reason here.
He knew that she was created to be protecte
and that he was created to protect her.He wondered why they had dug a great hole
the ground merely to bury dry bones. Sure
there was no sense in that; no one wanted to ste
dry bones.Had there been meat upon them he could hav
understood, for thus alone might one keep h
meat from Dango, the hyena, and the oth
robbers of the jungle.
When the grave had been filled with earth thlittle party turned back toward the cabin, an
Esmeralda, still weeping copiously for the tw
she had never heard of before today, and wh
had been dead twenty years, chanced to glan
toward the harbor. Instantly her tears ceased.
"Look at them low down white trash o
there!" she shrilled, pointing toward the Arrow
"They-all's a desecrating us, right here on th
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here perverted island."
And, sure enough, the Arrow was bein
worked toward the open sea, slowly, through th
harbor's entrance."They promised to leave us firearms an
ammunition," said Clayton.
"The merciless beasts!"
"It is the work of that fellow they call Snipesam sure," said Jane.
"King was a scoundrel, but he had a litt
sense of humanity. If they had not killed him
know that he would have seen that we we
properly provided for before they left us to ofate."
"I regret that they did not visit us befo
sailing," said Professor Porter. "I had propos
requesting them to leave the treasure with us, as
shall be a ruined man if that is lost."
Jane looked at her father sadly.
"Never mind, dear," she said. "It wouldn't hav
done any good, because it is solely for th
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treasure that they killed their officers and lande
us upon this awful shore."
"Tut, tut, child, tut, tut!" replied Profess
Porter. "You are a good child, but inexperiencein practical matters," and Professor Porter turn
and walked slowly away toward the jungle, h
hands clasped beneath his long coat tails and h
eyes bent upon the ground.His daughter watched him with a pathet
smile upon her lips, and then turning to M
Philander, she whispered:
"Please don't let him wander off again as h
did yesterday. We depend upon you, you knowto keep a close watch upon him."
"He becomes more difficult to handle ea
day," replied Mr. Philander, with a sigh and
shake of his head. "I presume he is now off
report to the directors of the Zoo that one of the
lions was at large last night. Oh, Miss Jane, yo
don't know what I have to contend with."
"Yes, I do, Mr. Philander; but while we a
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love him, you alone are best fitted to manage hi
for, regardless of what he may say to you, h
respects your great learning, and, therefore, h
immense confidence in your judgment. The podear cannot differentiate between erudition an
wisdom."
Mr. Philander, with a mildly puzzle
expression on his face, turned to pursuProfessor Porter, and in his mind he w
revolving the question of whether he should fe
complimented or aggrieved at Miss Porte
rather backhanded compliment.
Tarzan had seen the consternation depicteupon the faces of the little group as th
witnessed the departure of the Arrow; so, as th
ship was a wonderful novelty to him in additio
he determined to hasten out to the point of lan
at the north of the harbor's mouth and obtain
nearer view of the boat, as well as to learn,
possible, the direction of its flight.
Swinging through the trees with great spee
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he reached the point only a moment after the sh
had passed out of the harbor, so that he obtaine
an excellent view of the wonders of this strang
floating house.There were some twenty men running hith
and thither about the deck, pulling and haulin
on ropes.
A light land breeze was blowing, and the shhad been worked through the harbor's mou
under scant sail, but now that they had cleare
the point every available shred of canvas w
being spread that she might stand out to sea
handily as possible.Tarzan watched the graceful movements of t
ship in rapt admiration, and longed to be aboa
her. Presently his keen eyes caught the fainte
suspicion of smoke on the far northern horizo
and he wondered over the cause of such a thin
out on the great water.
About the same time the look-out on th
Arrow must have discerned it, for in a fe
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minutes Tarzan saw the sails being shifted an
shortened.
The ship came about, and presently he kne
that she was beating back toward land.A man at the bows was constantly heavin
into the sea a rope to the end of which a sma
object was fastened. Tarzan wondered what th
purpose of this action might be.At last the ship came up directly into the win
the anchor was lowered; down came the sail
There was great scurrying about on deck.
A boat was lowered, and in it a great chest w
placed. Then a dozen sailors bent to the oars anpulled rapidly toward the point where Tarz
crouched in the branches of a tree.
In the stern of the boat, as it drew neare
Tarzan saw the rat-faced man.
It was but a few minutes later that the bo
touched the beach. The men jumped out an
lifted the great chest to the sand. They were o
the north side of the point so that their presen
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was concealed from those at the cabin.
The men argued angrily for a moment. The
the rat-faced one, with several companion
ascended the low bluff on which stood the trthat concealed Tarzan. They looked about f
several minutes.
"Here is a good place," said the rat-faced sail
indicating a spot beneath Tarzan's tree."It is as good as any," replied one of h
companions. "If they catch us with the treasu
aboard it will all be confiscated anyway. W
might as well bury it here on the chance th
some of us will escape the gallows to come bacand enjoy it later."
The rat-faced one now called to the men wh
had remained at the boat, and they came slow
up the bank carrying picks and shovels.
"Hurry, you!" cried Snipes.
"Stow it!" retorted one of the men, in a sur
tone. "You're no admiral, you damned shrimp."
"I'm Cap'n here, though, I'll have you
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understand, you swab," shrieked Snipes, with
volley of frightful oaths.
"Steady, boys," cautioned one of the men wh
had not spoken before."It ain't goin' to get us nothing by fighti
amongst ourselves."
"Right enough," replied the sailor who h
resented Snipes' autocratic tones; "but it ain't goin' to get nobody nothin' to put on airs in th
bloomin' company neither."
"You fellows dig here," said Snipes, indicatin
a spot beneath the tree. "And while you're diggi
Peter kin be a-makin' of a map of the locatioso's we kin find it again. You, Tom, and Bi
take a couple more down and fetch up the chest
"Wot are you a-goin' to do?" asked he of t
previous altercation.
"Just boss?"
"Git busy there," growled Snipes. "You didn
think your Cap'n was a-goin' to dig with a shov
did you?"
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The men all looked up angrily. None of the
liked Snipes, and this disagreeable show
authority since he had murdered King, the re
head and ringleader of the mutineers, had onadded fuel to the flames of their hatred.
"Do you mean to say that you don't intend
take a shovel, and lend a hand with this work
Your shoulder's not hurt so all-fired bad as thasaid Tarrant, the sailor who had before spoken.
"Not by a damned sight," replied Snipe
fingering the butt of his revolver nervously.
"Then, by God," replied Tarrant, "if you won
take a shovel you'll take a pickax."With the words he raised his pick above h
head, and, with a mighty blow, he buried th
point in Snipes' brain.
For a moment the men stood silently lookin
at the result of their fellow's grim humor. Th
one of them spoke.
"Served the skunk jolly well right," he said.
One of the others commenced to ply his pic
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to the ground. The soil was soft and he thre
aside the pick and grasped a shovel; then th
others joined him. There was no further comme
on the killing, but the men worked in a bettframe of mind than they had since Snipes h
assumed command.
When they had a trench of ample size to bu
the chest, Tarrant suggested that they enlarge and inter Snipes' body on top of the chest.
"It might 'elp fool any as 'appened to b
diggin' 'ereabouts," he explained.
The others saw the cunning of the suggestio
and so the trench was lengthened accommodate the corpse, and in the center
deeper hole was excavated for the box, whic
was first wrapped in sailcloth and then lowere
to its place, which brought its top about a fo
below the bottom of the grave. Earth w
shovelled in and tramped down about the che
until the bottom of the grave showed level an
uniform.
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Two of the men rolled the rat-faced corp
unceremoniously into the grave, after fir
stripping it of its weapons and various oth
articles which the several members of the parcoveted for their own.
They then filled the grave with earth an
tramped upon it until it would hold no more.
The balance of the loose earth was thrown fand wide, and a mass of dead undergrow
spread in as natural a manner as possible over th
new-made grave to obliterate all signs of t
ground having been disturbed.
Their work done the sailors returned to tsmall boat, and pulled off rapidly toward th
Arrow.
The breeze had increased considerably, and
the smoke upon the horizon was now plain
discernible in considerable volume, th
mutineers lost no time in getting under full sa
and bearing away toward the southwest.
Tarzan, an interested spectator of all that ha
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taken place, sat speculating on the stran
actions of these peculiar creatures.
Men were indeed more foolish and more cru
than the beasts of the jungle! How fortunate whe who lived in the peace and security of th
great forest!
Tarzan wondered what the chest they ha
buried contained. If they did not want it why dthey not merely throw it into the water? Th
would have been much easier.
Ah, he thought, but they do want it. They hav
hidden it here because they intend returning for
later.Tarzan dropped to the ground and commenc
to examine the earth about the excavation. H
was looking to see if these creatures had dropp
anything which he might like to own. Soon h
discovered a spade hidden by the underbru
which they had laid upon the grave.
He seized it and attempted to use it as he ha
seen the sailors do. It was awkward work an
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hurt his bare feet, but he persevered until he h
partially uncovered the body. This he dragge
from the grave and laid to one side.
Then he continued digging until he hunearthed the chest. This also he dragged to t
side of the corpse. Then he filled in the small
hole below the grave, replaced the body and th
earth around and above it, covered it over wiunderbrush, and returned to the chest.
Four sailors had sweated beneath the burde
of its weight-Tarzan of the Apes picked it up
though it had been an empty packing case, an
with the spade slung to his back by a piece rope, carried it off into the densest part of th
jungle.
He could not well negotiate the trees with h
awkward burden, but he kept to the trails, and
made fairly good time.
For several hours he traveled a little north
east until he came to an impenetrable wall
matted and tangled vegetation. Then he took
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the lower branches, and in another fifte
minutes he emerged into the amphitheater of t
apes, where they met in council, or to celebra
the rites of the Dum-Dum.Near the center of the clearing, and not f
from the drum, or altar, he commenced to di
This was harder work than turning up the fresh
excavated earth at the grave, but Tarzan of thApes was persevering and so he kept at his lab
until he was rewarded by seeing a ho
sufficiently deep to receive the chest an
effectually hide it from view.
Why had he gone to all this labor withoknowing the value of the contents of the chest?
Tarzan of the Apes had a man's figure and
man's brain, but he was an ape by training an
environment. His brain told him that the che
contained something valuable, or the men wou
not have hidden it. His training had taught him
imitate whatever was new and unusual, and no
the natural curiosity, which is as common to m
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as to apes, prompted him to open the chest an
examine its contents.
But the heavy lock and massive iron ban
baffled both his cunning and his immenstrength, so that he was compelled to bury t
chest without having his curiosity satisfied.
By the time Tarzan had hunted his way bac
to the vicinity of the cabin, feeding as he went,was quite dark.
Within the little building a light was burnin
for Clayton had found an unopened tin of o
which had stood intact for twenty years, a part
the supplies left with the Claytons by BlacMichael. The lamps also were still useable, an
thus the interior of the cabin appeared as brig
as day to the astonished Tarzan.
He had often wondered at the exact purpose
the lamps. His reading and the pictures had to
him what they were, but he had no idea of ho
they could be made to produce the wondro
sunlight that some of his pictures had portraye
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them as diffusing upon all surrounding objects.
As he approached the window nearest the do
he saw that the cabin had been divided into tw
rooms by a rough partition of boughs ansailcloth.
In the front room were the three men; the tw
older deep in argument, while the younger, tilte
back against the wall on an improvised stoowas deeply engrossed in reading one of Tarzan
books.
Tarzan was not particularly interested in th
men, however, so he sought the other windo
There was the girl. How beautiful her featureHow delicate her snowy skin!
She was writing at Tarzan's own table benea
the window. Upon a pile of grasses at the far si
of the room lay the Negress asleep.
For an hour Tarzan feasted his eyes upon h
while she wrote. How he longed to speak to he
but he dared not attempt it, for he was convince
that, like the young man, she would n
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understand him, and he feared, too, that he mig
frighten her away.
At length she arose, leaving her manuscri
upon the table. She went to the bed upon whichad been spread several layers of soft grasses.
These she rearranged.
Then she loosened the soft mass of golden ha
which crowned her head.Like a shimmering waterfall turned
burnished metal by a dying sun it fell about h
oval face; in waving lines, below her waist
tumbled.
Tarzan was spellbound. Then she extinguishethe lamp and all within the cabin was wrapped
Cimmerian darkness.
Still Tarzan watched. Creeping close benea
the window he waited, listening, for half an hou
At last he was rewarded by the sounds of th
regular breathing within which denotes sleep.
Cautiously he intruded his hand between th
meshes of the lattice until his whole arm w
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within the cabin. Carefully he felt upon the desk
At last he grasped the manuscript upon whic
Jane Porter had been writing, and as cautious
withdrew his arm and hand, holding the preciotreasure.
Tarzan folded the sheets into a small parc
which he tucked into the quiver with his arrow
Then he melted away into the jungle as softand as noiselessly as a shadow.
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Chapter XVIII The Jungle Toll
Early the following morning Tarzan awok
and his first thought of the new day, as the last
yesterday, was of the wonderful writing whi
lay hidden in his quiver.Hurriedly he brought it forth, hoping again
hope that he could read what the beautiful whi
girl had written there the preceding evening.
At the first glance he suffered a bitt
disappointment; never before had he so yearnefor anything as now he did for the ability
interpret a message from that golden-haire
divinity who had come so suddenly and
unexpectedly into his life
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What did it matter if the message were n
intended for him? It was an expression of h
thoughts, and that was sufficient for Tarzan
the Apes.And now to be baffled by strange, uncou
characters the like of which he had never see
before! Why, they even tipped in the opposi
direction from all that he had ever examineeither in printed books or the difficult script
the few letters he had found.
Even the little bugs of the black book we
familiar friends, though their arrangement mea
nothing to him; but these bugs were new anunheard of.
For twenty minutes he pored over them, whe
suddenly they commenced to take famili
though distorted shapes. Ah, they were his o
friends, but badly crippled.
Then he began to make out a word here and
word there. His heart leaped for joy. He cou
read it, and he would.
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In another half hour he was progressin
rapidly, and, but for an exceptional word no
and again, he found it very plain sailing.
Here is what he read:WEST COAST OF AFRICA,
ABOUT 10 DEGREES SOUTH LATITUDE
(So Mr. Clayton says.)
February 3 (?), 1909.DEAREST HAZEL:
It seems foolish to write you a letter that yo
may never see, but I simply must tell somebod
of our awful experiences since we sailed fro
Europe on the ill-fated Arrow.If we never return to civilization, as no
seems only too likely, this will at least prove
brief record of the events which led up to o
final fate, whatever it may be.
As you know, we were supposed to have s
out upon a scientific expedition to the Cong
Papa was presumed to entertain some wondro
theory of an unthinkably ancient civilization, th
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remains of which lay buried somewhere in th
Congo valley. But after we were well under sa
the truth came out.
It seems that an old bookworm who hasbook and curio shop in Baltimore discovere
between the leaves of a very old Spani
manuscript a letter written in 1550 detailing t
adventures of a crew of mutineers of a Spanigalleon bound from Spain to South America wi
a vast treasure of "doubloons" and "pieces
eight," I suppose, for they certainly sound wei
and piraty.
The writer had been one of the crew, and thletter was to his son, who was, at the very tim
the letter was written, master of a Spani
merchantman.
Many years had elapsed since the events th
letter narrated had transpired, and the old ma
had become a respected citizen of an obscu
Spanish town, but the love of gold was still
strong upon him that he risked all to acquaint h
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son with the means of attaining fabulous weal
for them both.
The writer told how when but a week out fro
Spain the crew had mutinied and murdered eveofficer and man who opposed them; but th
defeated their own ends by this very act, for the
was none left competent to navigate a ship at se
They were blown hither and thither for twmonths, until sick and dying of scurvy, starvatio
and thirst, they had been wrecked on a small isl
The galleon was washed high upon the beac
where she went to pieces; but not before t
survivors, who numbered but ten souls, harescued one of the great chests of treasure.
This they buried well up on the island, and f
three years they lived there in constant hope
being rescued.
One by one they sickened and died, until on
one man was left, the writer of the letter.
The men had built a boat from the wreckage
the galleon, but having no idea where the islan
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was located they had not dared to put to sea.
When all were dead except himself, howeve
the awful loneliness so weighed upon the min
of the sole survivor that he could endure it nlonger, and choosing to risk death upon the ope
sea rather than madness on the lonely isle, he s
sail in his little boat after nearly a year
solitude.Fortunately he sailed due north, and within
week was in the track of the Spani
merchantmen plying between the West Indi
and Spain, and was picked up by one of the
vessels homeward bound.The story he told was merely one of shipwrec
in which all but a few had perished, the balanc
except himself, dying after they reached th
island. He did not mention the mutiny or t
chest of buried treasure.
The master of the merchantman assured hi
that from the position at which they had picke
him up, and the prevailing winds for the pa
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week he could have been on no other island th
one of the Cape Verde group, which lie off th
West Coast of Africa in about 16 degrees or
degrees north latitude.His letter described the island minutely,
well as the location of the treasure, and w
accompanied by the crudest, funniest little o
map you ever saw; with trees and rocks amarked by scrawly X's to show the exact sp
where the treasure had been buried.
When papa explained the real nature of th
expedition, my heart sank, for I know so we
how visionary and impractical the poor dear halways been that I feared that he had again bee
duped; especially when he told me he had paid
thousand dollars for the letter and map.
To add to my distress, I learned that he ha
borrowed ten thousand dollars more from Robe
Canler, and had given his notes for the amount.
Mr. Canler had asked for no security, and yo
know, dearie, what that will mean for me if pap
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cannot meet them. Oh, how I detest that man!
We all tried to look on the bright side of thin
but Mr. Philander, and Mr. Clayton-he joined
in London just for the adventure-both felt skeptical as I.
Well, to make a long story short, we found t
island and the treasure-a great iron-bound o
chest, wrapped in many layers of oiled sailclotand as strong and firm as when it had bee
buried nearly two hundred years ago.
It was SIMPLY FILLED with gold coin, an
was so heavy that four men bent underneath i
weight.The horrid thing seems to bring nothing b
murder and misfortune to those who hav
anything to do with it, for three days after w
sailed from the Cape Verde Islands our own cre
mutinied and killed every one of their officers.
Oh, it was the most terrifying experience on
could imagine-I cannot even write of it.
They were going to kill us too, but one
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them, the leader, named King, would not l
them, and so they sailed south along the coast
a lonely spot where they found a good harbo
and here they landed and have left us.They sailed away with the treasure to-day, b
Mr. Clayton says they will meet with a fa
similar to the mutineers of the ancient galleo
because King, the only man aboard who kneaught of navigation, was murdered on the bea
by one of the men the day we landed.
I wish you could know Mr. Clayton; he is th
dearest fellow imaginable, and unless I a
mistaken he has fallen very much in love wime.
He is the only son of Lord Greystoke, an
some day will inherit the title and estates.
addition, he is wealthy in his own right, but th
fact that he is going to be an English Lord mak
me very sad-you know what my sentiments hav
always been relative to American girls wh
married titled foreigners. Oh, if he were only
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plain American gentleman!
But it isn't his fault, poor fellow, and
everything except birth he would do credit to m
country, and that is the greatest complimentknow how to pay any man.
We have had the most weird experiences sin
we were landed here. Papa and Mr. Philand
lost in the jungle, and chased by a real lion.Mr. Clayton lost, and attacked twice by wi
beasts. Esmeralda and I cornered in an old cab
by a perfectly awful man-eating lioness. Oh,
was simply "terrifical," as Esmeralda would say
But the strangest part of it all is the wonderfcreature who rescued us. I have not seen him, b
Mr. Clayton and papa and Mr. Philander hav
and they say that he is a perfectly god-like whi
man tanned to a dusky brown, with the streng
of a wild elephant, the agility of a monkey, an
the bravery of a lion.
He speaks no English and vanishes as quick
and as mysteriously after he has performed som
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valorous deed, as though he were a disembodie
spirit.
Then we have another weird neighbor, wh
printed a beautiful sign in English and tackedon the door of his cabin, which we hav
preempted, warning us to destroy none of h
belongings, and signing himself "Tarzan of th
Apes."We have never seen him, though we think h
is about, for one of the sailors, who was going
shoot Mr. Clayton in the back, received a spe
in his shoulder from some unseen hand in th
jungle.The sailors left us but a meager supply of foo
so, as we have only a single revolver with b
three cartridges left in it, we do not know ho
we can procure meat, though Mr. Philander sa
that we can exist indefinitely on the wild fru
and nuts which abound in the jungle.
I am very tired now, so I shall go to my funn
bed of grasses which Mr.
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Clayton gathered for me, but will add to th
from day to day as things happen.
Lovingly,
JANE PORTER.TO HAZEL STRONG, BALTIMORE, MD.
Tarzan sat in a brown study for a long tim
after he finished reading the letter. It was fillewith so many new and wonderful things that h
brain was in a whirl as he attempted to dige
them all.
So they did not know that he was Tarzan
the Apes. He would tell them.In his tree he had constructed a rude shelter
leaves and boughs, beneath which, protect
from the rain, he had placed the few treasur
brought from the cabin. Among these were som
pencils.
He took one, and beneath Jane Porte
signature he wrote:
I am Tarzan of the Apes He thought th
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would be sufficient. Later he would return th
letter to the cabin.
In the matter of food, thought Tarzan, they h
no need to worry-he would provide, and he did.The next morning Jane found her missin
letter in the exact spot from which it h
disappeared two nights before. She w
mystified; but when she saw the printed worbeneath her signature, she felt a cold, clamm
chill run up her spine. She showed the letter,
rather the last sheet with the signature,
Clayton.
"And to think," she said, "that uncanny thinwas probably watching me all the time that I w
writing-oo! It makes me shudder just to think
it."
"But he must be friendly," reassured Clayto
"for he has returned your letter, nor did he off
to harm you, and unless I am mistaken he left
very substantial memento of his friendsh
outside the cabin door last night, for I just foun
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the carcass of a wild boar there as I came out."
From then on scarcely a day passed that d
not bring its offering of game or other foo
Sometimes it was a young deer, again a quantiof strange, cooked food-cassava cakes pilfere
from the village of Mbonga-or a boar, or leopar
and once a lion.
Tarzan derived the greatest pleasure of his liin hunting meat for these strangers. It seemed
him that no pleasure on earth could compare wi
laboring for the welfare and protection of th
beautiful white girl.
Some day he would venture into the camp daylight and talk with these people through th
medium of the little bugs which were familiar
them and to Tarzan.
But he found it difficult to overcome t
timidity of the wild thing of the forest, and
day followed day without seeing a fulfillment
his good intentions.
The party in the camp, emboldened b
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familiarity, wandered farther and yet farther in
the jungle in search of nuts and fruit.
Scarcely a day passed that did not fin
Professor Porter straying in his preoccupieindifference toward the jaws of death. M
Samuel T.
Philander, never what one might call robu
was worn to the shadow of a shadow through tceaseless worry and mental distraction resulta
from his Herculean efforts to safeguard th
professor.
A month passed. Tarzan had final
determined to visit the camp by daylight.It was early afternoon. Clayton had wandere
to the point at the harbor's mouth to look f
passing vessels. Here he kept a great mass
wood, high piled, ready to be ignited as a sign
should a steamer or a sail top the far horizon.
Professor Porter was wandering along t
beach south of the camp with Mr. Philander
his elbow, urging him to turn his steps bac
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before the two became again the sport of som
savage beast.
The others gone, Jane and Esmeralda ha
wandered into the jungle to gather fruit, and their search were led farther and farther from th
cabin.
Tarzan waited in silence before the door of th
little house until they should return. His thoughwere of the beautiful white girl. They we
always of her now. He wondered if she wou
fear him, and the thought all but caused him
relinquish his plan.
He was rapidly becoming impatient for hreturn, that he might feast his eyes upon her an
be near her, perhaps touch her. The ape-m
knew no god, but he was as near to worshippin
his divinity as mortal man ever comes to worsh
While he waited he passed the time printing
message to her; whether he intended giving it
her he himself could not have told, but he too
infinite pleasure in seeing his thoughts expresse
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in print-in which he was not so uncivilized aft
all. He wrote:
I am Tarzan of the Apes. I want you. I a
yours. You are mine. We live here togethalways in my house. I will bring you the best
fruits, the tenderest deer, the finest meats th
roam the jungle. I will hunt for you. I am t
greatest of the jungle fighters. I will fight for yoI am the mightiest of the jungle fighters. You a
Jane Porter, I saw it in your letter. When you s
this you will know that it is for you and th
Tarzan of the Apes loves you.
As he stood, straight as a young Indian, by thdoor, waiting after he had finished the messag
there came to his keen ears a familiar sound.
It was the passing of a great ape through th
lower branches of the forest.
For an instant he listened intently, and the
from the jungle came the agonized scream of
woman, and Tarzan of the Apes, dropping h
first love letter upon the ground, shot like
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panther into the forest.
Clayton, also, heard the scream, and Profess
Porter and Mr.
Philander, and in a few minutes they campanting to the cabin, calling out to each other
volley of excited questions as they approache
A glance within confirmed their worst fears.
Jane and Esmeralda were not there.Instantly, Clayton, followed by the two o
men, plunged into the jungle, calling the gir
name aloud. For half an hour they stumbled o
until Clayton, by merest chance, came upon th
prostrate form of Esmeralda.He stopped beside her, feeling for her pul
and then listening for her heartbeats. She live
He shook her.
"Esmeralda!" he shrieked in her ea
"Esmeralda! For God's sake, where is Mi
Porter? What has happened? Esmeralda!"
Slowly Esmeralda opened her eyes. She sa
Clayton. She saw the jungle about her.
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"Oh, Gaberelle!" she screamed, and fainte
again.
By this time Professor Porter and M
Philander had come up."What shall we do, Mr. Clayton?" asked t
old professor. "Where shall we look? God cou
not have been so cruel as to take my little g
away from me now.""We must arouse Esmeralda first," replie
Clayton. "She can tell us what has happene
Esmeralda!" he cried again, shaking the blac
woman roughly by the shoulder.
"O Gaberelle, I want to die!" cried the powoman, but with eyes fast closed. "Let me di
dear Lord, don't let me see that awful fa
again."
"Come, come, Esmeralda," cried Clayton.
"The Lord isn't here; it's Mr. Clayton. Op
your eyes."
Esmeralda did as she was bade.
"O Gaberelle! Thank the Lord," she said.
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"Where's Miss Porter? What happened
questioned Clayton.
"Ain't Miss Jane here?" cried Esmerald
sitting up with wonderful celerity for one of hbulk. "Oh, Lord, now I remember! It must hav
took her away," and the Negress commenced
sob, and wail her lamentations.
"What took her away?" cried Professor Porte"A great big giant all covered with hair."
"A gorilla, Esmeralda?" questioned M
Philander, and the three men scarcely breathed
he voiced the horrible thought.
"I thought it was the devil; but I guess it muhave been one of them gorilephants. Oh, my po
baby, my poor little honey," and again Esmeral
broke into uncontrollable sobbing.
Clayton immediately began to look about f
tracks, but he could find nothing save
confusion of trampled grasses in the clo
vicinity, and his woodcraft was too meager f
the translation of what he did see.
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All the balance of the day they sought throug
the jungle; but as night drew on they were force
to give up in despair and hopelessness, for th
did not even know in what direction the thinhad borne Jane.
It was long after dark ere they reached th
cabin, and a sad and grief-stricken party it w
that sat silently within the little structure.Professor Porter finally broke the silence. H
tones were no longer those of the erudite peda
theorizing upon the abstract and the unknowabl
but those of the man of action-determined, b
tinged also by a note of indescribabhopelessness and grief which wrung
answering pang from Clayton's heart.
"I shall lie down now," said the old man, "an
try to sleep. Early to-morrow, as soon as it
light, I shall take what food I can carry an
continue the search until I have found Jane. I w
not return without her."
His companions did not reply at once. Ea
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was immersed in his own sorrowful though
and each knew, as did the old professor, what th
last words meant-Professor Porter would nev
return from the jungle.At length Clayton arose and laid his han
gently upon Professor Porter's bent old shoulde
"I shall go with you, of course," he said.
"I knew that you would offer-that you wouwish to go, Mr. Clayton; but you must not. Jan
is beyond human assistance now. What was on
my dear little girl shall not lie alone an
friendless in the awful jungle.
"The same vines and leaves will cover us, tsame rains beat upon us; and when the spirit
her mother is abroad, it will find us together
death, as it has always found us in life.
"No; it is I alone who may go, for she was m
daughter-all that was left on earth for me
love."
"I shall go with you," said Clayton simply.
The old man looked up, regarding the stron
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handsome face of William Cecil Clayton intent
Perhaps he read there the love that lay in th
heart beneath-the love for his daughter.
He had been too preoccupied with his owscholarly thoughts in the past to consider th
little occurrences, the chance words, whi
would have indicated to a more practical m
that these young people were being drawn moand more closely to one another. Now they cam
back to him, one by one.
"As you wish," he said.
"You may count on me, also," said M
Philander."No, my dear old friend," said Professor Port
"We may not all go.
It would be cruelly wicked to leave po
Esmeralda here alone, and three of us would
no more successful than one.
"There be enough dead things in the cru
forest as it is. Come-let us try to sleep a little."
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Chapter XIX The Call of the P rimitiv
From the time Tarzan left the tribe of gre
anthropoids in which he had been raised, it w
torn by continual strife and discord. Terk
proved a cruel and capricious king, so that, oby one, many of the older and weaker apes, upo
whom he was particularly prone to vent h
brutish nature, took their families and sought th
quiet and safety of the far interior.
But at last those who remained were driven desperation by the continued truculence
Terkoz, and it so happened that one of the
recalled the parting admonition of Tarzan:
"If you have a chief who is cruel do not do
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the other apes do, and attempt, any one of you,
pit yourself against him alone. But, instead, l
two or three or four of you attack him togethe
Then, if you will do this, no chief will dare to other than he should be, for four of you can k
any chief who may ever be over you."
And the ape who recalled this wise couns
repeated it to several of his fellows, so that whTerkoz returned to the tribe that day he found
warm reception awaiting him.
There were no formalities. As Terkoz reache
the group, five huge, hairy beasts sprang upo
him.At heart he was an arrant coward, which is th
way with bullies among apes as well as amon
men; so he did not remain to fight and die, b
tore himself away from them as quickly as h
could and fled into the sheltering boughs of t
forest.
Two more attempts he made to rejoin the trib
but on each occasion he was set upon and drive
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away. At last he gave it up, and turned, foamin
with rage and hatred, into the jungle.
For several days he wandered aimlessl
nursing his spite and looking for some wething on which to vent his pent anger.
It was in this state of mind that the horribl
man-like beast, swinging from tree to tree, cam
suddenly upon two women in the jungle.He was right above them when he discovere
them. The first intimation Jane Porter had of h
presence was when the great hairy body droppe
to the earth beside her, and she saw the awf
face and the snarling, hideous mouth thruwithin a foot of her.
One piercing scream escaped her lips as th
brute hand clutched her arm. Then she w
dragged toward those awful fangs which yawn
at her throat. But ere they touched that fair sk
another mood claimed the anthropoid.
The tribe had kept his women. He must fin
others to replace them.
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This hairless white ape would be the first
his new household, and so he threw her rough
across his broad, hairy shoulders and leaped bac
into the trees, bearing Jane away.Esmeralda's scream of terror had mingled on
with that of Jane, and then, as was Esmeralda
manner under stress of emergency whi
required presence of mind, she swooned.But Jane did not once lose consciousness. It
true that that awful face, pressing close to her
and the stench of the foul breath beating upo
her nostrils, paralyzed her with terror; but h
brain was clear, and she comprehended all thtranspired.
With what seemed to her marvelous rapidi
the brute bore her through the forest, but still sh
did not cry out or struggle. The sudden advent
the ape had confused her to such an extent th
she thought now that he was bearing her towa
the beach.
For this reason she conserved her energies an
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her voice until she could see that they ha
approached near enough to the camp to attra
the succor she craved.
She could not have known it, but she wbeing borne farther and farther into th
impenetrable jungle.
The scream that had brought Clayton and t
two older men stumbling through tundergrowth had led Tarzan of the Apes straig
to where Esmeralda lay, but it was not Esmerald
in whom his interest centered, though pausin
over her he saw that she was unhurt.
For a moment he scrutinized the ground beloand the trees above, until the ape that was in hi
by virtue of training and environment, combin
with the intelligence that was his by right of bir
told his wondrous woodcraft the whole story
plainly as though he had seen the thing happ
with his own eyes.
And then he was gone again into the swayin
trees, following the high-flung spoor which n
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other human eye could have detected, much le
translated.
At boughs' ends, where the anthropoid swin
from one tree to another, there is most to mathe trail, but least to point the direction of th
quarry; for there the pressure is downwa
always, toward the small end of the branc
whether the ape be leaving or entering a tree.Nearer the center of the tree, where the sig
of passage are fainter, the direction is plain
marked.
Here, on this branch, a caterpillar has bee
crushed by the fugitive's great foot, and Tarzknows instinctively where that same foot wou
touch in the next stride. Here he looks to find
tiny particle of the demolished larva, ofttimes n
more than a speck of moisture.
Again, a minute bit of bark has been upturn
by the scraping hand, and the direction of th
break indicates the direction of the passage. O
some great limb, or the stem of the tree itself h
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been brushed by the hairy body, and a tiny shre
of hair tells him by the direction from which it
wedged beneath the bark that he is on the rig
trail.Nor does he need to check his speed to cat
these seemingly faint records of the fleeing bea
To Tarzan they stand out boldly against all th
myriad other scars and bruises and signs upothe leafy way. But strongest of all is the scen
for Tarzan is pursuing up the wind, and h
trained nostrils are as sensitive as a hound's.
There are those who believe that the low
orders are specially endowed by nature wibetter olfactory nerves than man, but it is mere
a matter of development.
Man's survival does not hinge so greatly upo
the perfection of his senses. His power to reaso
has relieved them of many of their duties, and
they have, to some extent, atrophied, as have th
muscles which move the ears and scalp, mere
from disuse.
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The muscles are there, about the ears an
beneath the scalp, and so are the nerves whic
transmit sensations to the brain, but they a
under-developed because they are not needed.Not so with Tarzan of the Apes. From ear
infancy his survival had depended upo
acuteness of eyesight, hearing, smell, touch, an
taste far more than upon the more slowdeveloped organ of reason.
The least developed of all in Tarzan was th
sense of taste, for he could eat luscious fruits,
raw flesh, long buried with almost equ
appreciation; but in that he differed but slightfrom more civilized epicures.
Almost silently the ape-man sped on in t
track of Terkoz and his prey, but the sound of h
approach reached the ears of the fleeing bea
and spurred it on to greater speed.
Three miles were covered before Tarz
overtook them, and then Terkoz, seeing th
further flight was futile, dropped to the ground
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a small open glade, that he might turn and fig
for his prize or be free to escape unhampered
he saw that the pursuer was more than a matc
for him.He still grasped Jane in one great arm
Tarzan bounded like a leopard into the aren
which nature had provided for this primeval-lik
battle.When Terkoz saw that it was Tarzan wh
pursued him, he jumped to the conclusion th
this was Tarzan's woman, since they were of th
same kind-white and hairless-and so he rejoice
at this opportunity for double revenge upon hhated enemy.
To Jane the strange apparition of this god-lik
man was as wine to sick nerves.
From the description which Clayton and h
father and Mr. Philander had given her, she kne
that it must be the same wonderful creature wh
had saved them, and she saw in him only
protector and a friend.
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But as Terkoz pushed her roughly aside
meet Tarzan's charge, and she saw the gre
proportions of the ape and the mighty muscl
and the fierce fangs, her heart quailed. Hocould any vanquish such a mighty antagonist?
Like two charging bulls they came togethe
and like two wolves sought each other's throa
Against the long canines of the ape was pittthe thin blade of the man's knife.
Jane-her lithe, young form flattened again
the trunk of a great tree, her hands tight presse
against her rising and falling bosom, and h
eyes wide with mingled horror, fascination, feaand admiration-watched the primordial ape batt
with the primeval man for possession of
woman-for her.
As the great muscles of the man's back an
shoulders knotted beneath the tension of h
efforts, and the huge biceps and forearm held
bay those mighty tusks, the veil of centuries
civilization and culture was swept from th
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blurred vision of the Baltimore girl.
When the long knife drank deep a dozen tim
of Terkoz' heart's blood, and the great carca
rolled lifeless upon the ground, it was a primevwoman who sprang forward with outstretch
arms toward the primeval man who had foug
for her and won her.
And Tarzan?He did what no red-blooded man nee
lessons in doing. He took his woman in his arm
and smothered her upturned, panting lips wi
kisses.
For a moment Jane lay there with half-closeeyes. For a moment-the first in her young lif
she knew the meaning of love.
But as suddenly as the veil had bee
withdrawn it dropped again, and an outrag
conscience suffused her face with its scarl
mantle, and a mortified woman thrust Tarzan
the Apes from her and buried her face in h
hands.
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Tarzan had been surprised when he had foun
the girl he had learned to love after a vague an
abstract manner a willing prisoner in his arms.
Now he was surprised that she repulsed him.He came close to her once more and took ho
of her arm. She turned upon him like a tigres
striking his great breast with her tiny hands.
Tarzan could not understand it.A moment ago and it had been his intention
hasten Jane back to her people, but that litt
moment was lost now in the dim and distant pa
of things which were but can never be again, an
with it the good intentions had gone to join timpossible.
Since then Tarzan of the Apes had felt a warm
lithe form close pressed to his. Hot, sweet brea
against his cheek and mouth had fanned a ne
flame to life within his breast, and perfect li
had clung to his in burning kisses that had seare
a deep brand into his soul-a brand which marke
a new Tarzan.
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Again he laid his hand upon her arm. Aga
she repulsed him. And then Tarzan of the Ap
did just what his first ancestor would have done
He took his woman in his arms and carried hinto the jungle.
Early the following morning the four with
the little cabin by the beach were awakened b
the booming of a cannon. Clayton was the first rush out, and there, beyond the harbor's mout
he saw two vessels lying at anchor.
One was the Arrow and the other a sma
French cruiser. The sides of the latter we
crowded with men gazing shoreward, and it wevident to Clayton, as to the others who had no
joined him, that the gun which they had hea
had been fired to attract their attention if the
still remained at the cabin.
Both vessels lay at a considerable distan
from shore, and it was doubtful if their glass
would locate the waving hats of the little par
far in between the harbor's points.
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Esmeralda had removed her red apron and w
waving it frantically above her head; but Clayto
still fearing that even this might not be see
hurried off toward the northern point where lahis signal pyre ready for the match.
It seemed an age to him, as to those wh
waited breathlessly behind, ere he reached th
great pile of dry branches and underbrush.As he broke from the dense wood and came
sight of the vessels again, he was filled wi
consternation to see that the Arrow was makin
sail and that the cruiser was already under way.
Quickly lighting the pyre in a dozen places, hhurried to the extreme point of the promontor
where he stripped off his shirt, and, tying it to
fallen branch, stood waving it back and for
above him.
But still the vessels continued to stand out; an
he had given up all hope, when the great colum
of smoke, rising above the forest in one den
vertical shaft, attracted the attention of a looko
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aboard the cruiser, and instantly a dozen glass
were leveled on the beach.
Presently Clayton saw the two ships com
about again; and while the Arrow lay driftinquietly on the ocean, the cruiser steamed slow
back toward shore.
At some distance away she stopped, and a bo
was lowered and dispatched toward the beach.As it was drawn up a young officer steppe
out.
"Monsieur Clayton, I presume?" he asked.
"Thank God, you have come!" was Clayton
reply. "And it may be that it is not too late evnow."
"What do you mean, Monsieur?" asked th
officer.
Clayton told of the abduction of Jane Port
and the need of armed men to aid in the sear
for her.
"MON DIEU!" exclaimed the officer, sadl
"Yesterday and it would not have been too lat
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Today and it may be better that the poor lad
were never found. It is horrible, Monsieur. It
too horrible."
Other boats had now put off from the cruiseand Clayton, having pointed out the harbo
entrance to the officer, entered the boat with hi
and its nose was turned toward the litt
landlocked bay, into which the other crafollowed.
Soon the entire party had landed where stoo
Professor Porter, Mr.
Philander and the weeping Esmeralda.
Among the officers in the last boats to put ofrom the cruiser was the commander of t
vessel; and when he had heard the story of Jane
abduction, he generously called for volunteers
accompany Professor Porter and Clayton in the
search.
Not an officer or a man was there of tho
brave and sympathetic Frenchmen who did n
quickly beg leave to be one of the expedition.
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The commander selected twenty men and tw
officers, Lieutenant D'Arnot and Lieutena
Charpentier. A boat was dispatched to the cruis
for provisions, ammunition, and carbines; thmen were already armed with revolvers.
Then, to Clayton's inquiries as to how they h
happened to anchor off shore and fire a sign
gun, the commander, Captain Dufrannexplained that a month before they had sight
the Arrow bearing southwest under considerab
canvas, and that when they had signaled her
come about she had but crowded on more sail.
They had kept her hull-up until sunset, firinseveral shots after her, but the next morning sh
was nowhere to be seen. They had th
continued to cruise up and down the coast f
several weeks, and had about forgotten th
incident of the recent chase, when, early on
morning a few days before the lookout h
described a vessel laboring in the trough of
heavy sea and evidently entirely out of control.
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As they steamed nearer to the derelict th
were surprised to note that it was the same vess
that had run from them a few weeks earlier. H
forestaysail and mizzen spanker were set though an effort had been made to hold her hea
up into the wind, but the sheets had parted, an
the sails were tearing to ribbons in the half ga
of wind.In the high sea that was running it was
difficult and dangerous task to attempt to put
prize crew aboard her; and as no signs of life h
been seen above deck, it was decided to stand b
until the wind and sea abated; but just then figure was seen clinging to the rail and feeb
waving a mute signal of despair toward them.
Immediately a boat's crew was ordered out an
an attempt was successfully made to board th
Arrow.
The sight that met the Frenchmen's eyes
they clambered over the ship's side was appallin
A dozen dead and dying men rolled hither an
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thither upon the pitching deck, the livin
intermingled with the dead. Two of the corps
appeared to have been partially devoured
though by wolves.The prize crew soon had the vessel und
proper sail once more and the living members
the ill-starred company carried below to the
hammocks.The dead were wrapped in tarpaulins an
lashed on deck to be identified by their comrad
before being consigned to the deep.
None of the living was conscious when th
Frenchmen reached the Arrow's deck. Even tpoor devil who had waved the single despairin
signal of distress had lapsed in
unconsciousness before he had learned whether
had availed or not.
It did not take the French officer long to lea
what had caused the terrible condition aboar
for when water and brandy were sought
restore the men, it was found that there was non
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nor even food of any description.
He immediately signalled to the cruiser
send water, medicine, and provisions, an
another boat made the perilous trip to the ArrowWhen restoratives had been applied several
the men regained consciousness, and then th
whole story was told. That part of it we know u
to the sailing of the Arrow after the murder Snipes, and the burial of his body above t
treasure chest.
It seems that the pursuit by the cruiser had
terrorized the mutineers that they had continue
out across the Atlantic for several days aftlosing her; but on discovering the meager supp
of water and provisions aboard, they had turn
back toward the east.
With no one on board who understoo
navigation, discussions soon arose as to the
whereabouts; and as three days' sailing to the ea
did not raise land, they bore off to the nort
fearing that the high north winds that ha
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prevailed had driven them south of the southe
extremity of Africa.
They kept on a north-northeasterly course f
two days, when they were overtaken by a calwhich lasted for nearly a week. Their water w
gone, and in another day they would be witho
food.
Conditions changed rapidly from bad to worOne man went mad and leaped overboard. Soo
another opened his veins and drank his ow
blood.
When he died they threw him overboard als
though there were those among them whwanted to keep the corpse on board. Hunger w
changing them from human beasts to wild beast
Two days before they had been picked up b
the cruiser they had become too weak to hand
the vessel, and that same day three men died. O
the following morning it was seen that one of t
corpses had been partially devoured.
All that day the men lay glaring at each oth
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like beasts of prey, and the following mornin
two of the corpses lay almost entirely stripped
flesh.
The men were but little stronger for theghoulish repast, for the want of water was by f
the greatest agony with which they had
contend. And then the cruiser had come.
When those who could had recovered, tentire story had been told to the Fren
commander; but the men were too ignorant to b
able to tell him at just what point on the coast th
professor and his party had been marooned,
the cruiser had steamed slowly along within sigof land, firing occasional signal guns an
scanning every inch of the beach with glasses.
They had anchored by night so as not
neglect a particle of the shore line, and it ha
happened that the preceding night had broug
them off the very beach where lay the little cam
they sought.
The signal guns of the afternoon before h
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not been heard by those on shore, it w
presumed, because they had doubtless been
the thick of the jungle searching for Jane Porte
where the noise of their own crashing througthe underbrush would have drowned the report
a far distant gun.
By the time the two parties had narrated the
several adventures, the cruiser's boat hreturned with supplies and arms for t
expedition.
Within a few minutes the little body of sailo
and the two French officers, together wi
Professor Porter and Clayton, set off upon thehopeless and ill-fated quest into the untrack
jungle.
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Chapter XX H eredity
When Jane realized that she was bein
borne away a captive by the strange fore
creature who had rescued her from the clutch
of the ape she struggled desperately to escapbut the strong arms that held her as easily
though she had been but a day-old babe on
pressed a little more tightly.
So presently she gave up the futile effort an
lay quietly, looking through half-closed lids the faces of the man who strode easily throug
the tangled undergrowth with her.
The face above her was one of extraordina
beauty
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A perfect type of the strongly masculin
unmarred by dissipation, or brutal or degradin
passions. For, though Tarzan of the Apes was
killer of men and of beasts, he killed as thunter kills, dispassionately, except on those ra
occasions when he had killed for hate-though n
the brooding, malevolent hate which marks t
features of its own with hideous lines.When Tarzan killed he more often smiled th
scowled, and smiles are the foundation of beaut
One thing the girl had noticed particular
when she had seen Tarzan rushing upon Terko
the vivid scarlet band upon his forehead, froabove the left eye to the scalp; but now as sh
scanned his features she noticed that it was gon
and only a thin white line marked the spot whe
it had been.
As she lay more quietly in his arms Tarz
slightly relaxed his grip upon her.
Once he looked down into her eyes and smile
and the girl had to close her own to shut out th
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vision of that handsome, winning face.
Presently Tarzan took to the trees, and Jan
wondering that she felt no fear, began to reali
that in many respects she had never felt mosecure in her whole life than now as she lay
the arms of this strong, wild creature, bein
borne, God alone knew where or to what fat
deeper and deeper into the savage fastness of thuntamed forest.
When, with closed eyes, she commenced
speculate upon the future, and terrifying fea
were conjured by a vivid imagination, she ha
but to raise her lids and look upon that noble faso close to hers to dissipate the last remnant
apprehension.
No, he could never harm her; of that she w
convinced when she translated the fine featur
and the frank, brave eyes above her into th
chivalry which they proclaimed.
On and on they went through what seemed
Jane a solid mass of verdure, yet ever the
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appeared to open before this forest god a passa
as by magic, which closed behind them as th
passed.
Scarce a branch scraped against her, yet abovand below, before and behind, the vie
presented naught but a solid mass of inextricab
interwoven branches and creepers.
As Tarzan moved steadily onward his minwas occupied with many strange and ne
thoughts. Here was a problem the like of whic
he had never encountered, and he felt rather th
reasoned that he must meet it as a man and not
an ape.The free movement through the middle terra
which was the route he had followed for the mo
part, had helped to cool the ardor of the fir
fierce passion of his new found love.
Now he discovered himself speculating upo
the fate which would have fallen to the girl ha
he not rescued her from Terkoz.
He knew why the ape had not killed her, an
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he commenced to compare his intentions wi
those of Terkoz.
True, it was the order of the jungle for th
male to take his mate by force; but could Tarzabe guided by the laws of the beasts? Was n
Tarzan a Man? But what did men do? He w
puzzled; for he did not know.
He wished that he might ask the girl, and thit came to him that she had already answered hi
in the futile struggle she had made to escape an
to repulse him.
But now they had come to their destinatio
and Tarzan of the Apes with Jane in his stronarms, swung lightly to the turf of the arena whe
the great apes held their councils and danced th
wild orgy of the Dum-Dum.
Though they had come many miles, it was st
but midafternoon, and the amphitheater w
bathed in the half light which filtered through th
maze of encircling foliage.
The green turf looked soft and cool an
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inviting. The myriad noises of the jungle seeme
far distant and hushed to a mere echo of blurr
sounds, rising and falling like the surf upon
remote shore.A feeling of dreamy peacefulness stole ov
Jane as she sank down upon the grass whe
Tarzan had placed her, and as she looked up
his great figure towering above her, there wadded a strange sense of perfect security.
As she watched him from beneath half-close
lids, Tarzan crossed the little circular clearin
toward the trees upon the further side. She not
the graceful majesty of his carriage, the perfesymmetry of his magnificent figure and the poi
of his well-shaped head upon his broad shoulde
What a perfect creature! There could b
naught of cruelty or baseness beneath th
godlike exterior. Never, she thought had such
man strode the earth since God created the fir
in his own image.
With a bound Tarzan sprang into the trees an
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disappeared. Jane wondered where he had gon
Had he left her there to her fate in the lone
jungle?
She glanced nervously about. Every vine anbush seemed but the lurking-place of some hu
and horrible beast waiting to bury gleamin
fangs into her soft flesh. Every sound sh
magnified into the stealthy creeping of a sinuoand malignant body.
How different now that he had left her!
For a few minutes that seemed hours to t
frightened girl, she sat with tense nerves waitin
for the spring of the crouching thing that was end her misery of apprehension.
She almost prayed for the cruel teeth th
would give her unconsciousness and surcea
from the agony of fear.
She heard a sudden, slight sound behind he
With a cry she sprang to her feet and turned
face her end.
There stood Tarzan, his arms filled with rip
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and luscious fruit.
Jane reeled and would have fallen, had n
Tarzan, dropping his burden, caught her in h
arms. She did not lose consciousness, but shclung tightly to him, shuddering and tremblin
like a frightened deer.
Tarzan of the Apes stroked her soft hair an
tried to comfort and quiet her as Kala had himwhen, as a little ape, he had been frightened b
Sabor, the lioness, or Histah, the snake.
Once he pressed his lips lightly upon h
forehead, and she did not move, but closed h
eyes and sighed.She could not analyze her feelings, nor did sh
wish to attempt it.
She was satisfied to feel the safety of tho
strong arms, and to leave her future to fate; f
the last few hours had taught her to trust th
strange wild creature of the forest as she wou
have trusted but few of the men of h
acquaintance.
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As she thought of the strangeness of it, the
commenced to dawn upon her the realization th
she had, possibly, learned something else whi
she had never really known before-love. Swondered and then she smiled.
And still smiling, she pushed Tarzan gent
away; and looking at him with a half-smilin
half-quizzical expression that made her fawholly entrancing, she pointed to the fruit upo
the ground, and seated herself upon the edge
the earthen drum of the anthropoids, for hung
was asserting itself.
Tarzan quickly gathered up the fruit, anbringing it, laid it at her feet; and then he, too, s
upon the drum beside her, and with his kni
opened and prepared the various fruits for h
meal.
Together and in silence they ate, occasional
stealing sly glances at one another, until final
Jane broke into a merry laugh in which Tarza
joined.
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"I wish you spoke English," said the girl.
Tarzan shook his head, and an expression
wistful and pathetic longing sobered his laughin
eyes.Then Jane tried speaking to him in French, an
then in German; but she had to laugh at her ow
blundering attempt at the latter tongue.
"Anyway," she said to him in English, "younderstand my German as well as they did
Berlin."
Tarzan had long since reached a decision as
what his future procedure should be. He had h
time to recollect all that he had read of the waof men and women in the books at the cabin. H
would act as he imagined the men in the boo
would have acted were they in his place.
Again he rose and went into the trees, but fir
he tried to explain by means of signs that
would return shortly, and he did so well that Jan
understood and was not afraid when he had gon
Only a feeling of loneliness came over her an
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she watched the point where he had disappeare
with longing eyes, awaiting his return. As befor
she was appraised of his presence by a soft soun
behind her, and turned to see him coming acrothe turf with a great armful of branches.
Then he went back again into the jungle and
a few minutes reappeared with a quantity of so
grasses and ferns.Two more trips he made until he had quite
pile of material at hand.
Then he spread the ferns and grasses upon th
ground in a soft flat bed, and above it lean
many branches together so that they met a fefeet over its center. Upon these he spread laye
of huge leaves of the great elephant's ear, an
with more branches and more leaves he close
one end of the little shelter he had built.
Then they sat down together again upon th
edge of the drum and tried to talk by signs.
The magnificent diamond locket which hun
about Tarzan's neck, had been a source of mu
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wonderment to Jane. She pointed to it now, an
Tarzan removed it and handed the pretty baub
to her.
She saw that it was the work of a skillartisan and that the diamonds were of gre
brilliancy and superbly set, but the cutting
them denoted that they were of a former day. S
noticed too that the locket opened, and, pressinthe hidden clasp, she saw the two halves sprin
apart to reveal in either section an ivo
miniature.
One was of a beautiful woman and the oth
might have been a likeness of the man who sbeside her, except for a subtle difference
expression that was scarcely definable.
She looked up at Tarzan to find him leanin
toward her gazing on the miniatures with
expression of astonishment. He reached out h
hand for the locket and took it away from he
examining the likenesses within wi
unmistakable signs of surprise and new intere
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His manner clearly denoted that he had nev
before seen them, nor imagined that the lock
opened.
This fact caused Jane to indulge in furthspeculation, and it taxed her imagination
picture how this beautiful ornament came in
the possession of a wild and savage creature
the unexplored jungles of Africa.Still more wonderful was how it contained th
likeness of one who might be a brother, or, mo
likely, the father of this woodland demi-god wh
was even ignorant of the fact that the lock
opened.Tarzan was still gazing with fixity at the tw
faces. Presently he removed the quiver from h
shoulder, and emptying the arrows upon t
ground reached into the bottom of the bag-lik
receptacle and drew forth a flat object wrapp
in many soft leaves and tied with bits of lon
grass.
Carefully he unwrapped it, removing lay
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after layer of leaves until at length he held
photograph in his hand.
Pointing to the miniature of the man within t
locket he handed the photograph to Jane, holdinthe open locket beside it.
The photograph only served to puzzle the g
still more, for it was evidently another likene
of the same man whose picture rested in thlocket beside that of the beautiful young woman
Tarzan was looking at her with an expressio
of puzzled bewilderment in his eyes as sh
glanced up at him. He seemed to be framing
question with his lips.The girl pointed to the photograph and then
the miniature and then to him, as though
indicate that she thought the likenesses were
him, but he only shook his head, and th
shrugging his great shoulders, he took th
photograph from her and having careful
rewrapped it, placed it again in the bottom of h
quiver.
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For a few moments he sat in silence, his ey
bent upon the ground, while Jane held the litt
locket in her hand, turning it over and over in
endeavor to find some further clue that miglead to the identity of its original owner.
At length a simple explanation occurred to he
The locket had belonged to Lord Greystok
and the likenesses were of himself and LadAlice.
This wild creature had simply found it in th
cabin by the beach. How stupid of her not
have thought of that solution before.
But to account for the strange likenebetween Lord Greystoke and this forest god-th
was quite beyond her, and it is not strange th
she could not imagine that this naked savage w
indeed an English nobleman.
At length Tarzan looked up to watch the g
as she examined the locket. He could not fatho
the meaning of the faces within, but he cou
read the interest and fascination upon the face
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the live young creature by his side.
She noticed that he was watching her an
thinking that he wished his ornament again sh
held it out to him. He took it from her and takinthe chain in his two hands he placed it about h
neck, smiling at her expression of surprise at h
unexpected gift.
Jane shook her head vehemently and wouhave removed the golden links from about h
throat, but Tarzan would not let her. Taking h
hands in his, when she insisted upon it, he he
them tightly to prevent her.
At last she desisted and with a little laugraised the locket to her lips.
Tarzan did not know precisely what she mea
but he guessed correctly that it was her way
acknowledging the gift, and so he rose, an
taking the locket in his hand, stooped grave
like some courtier of old, and pressed his li
upon it where hers had rested.
It was a stately and gallant little complime
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performed with the grace and dignity of utt
unconsciousness of self. It was the hall-mark
his aristocratic birth, the natural outcropping
many generations of fine breeding, an hereditainstinct of graciousness which a lifetime
uncouth and savage training and environme
could not eradicate.
It was growing dark now, and so they aagain of the fruit which was both food and drin
for them; then Tarzan rose, and leading Jane
the little bower he had erected, motioned her
go within.
For the first time in hours a feeling of feswept over her, and Tarzan felt her draw away
though shrinking from him.
Contact with this girl for half a day had left
very diferent Tarzan from the one on whom t
morning's sun had risen.
Now, in every fiber of his being, heredi
spoke louder than training.
He had not in one swift transition become
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polished gentleman from a savage ape-man, b
at last the instincts of the former predominate
and over all was the desire to please the wom
he loved, and to appear well in her eyes.So Tarzan of the Apes did the only thing h
knew to assure Jane of her safety. He remov
his hunting knife from its sheath and handed it
her hilt first, again motioning her into the boweThe girl understood, and taking the long kni
she entered and lay down upon the soft grass
while Tarzan of the Apes stretched himself upo
the ground across the entrance.
And thus the rising sun found them in thmorning.
When Jane awoke, she did not at first rec
the strange events of the preceding day, and
she wondered at her odd surroundings-the litt
leafy bower, the soft grasses of her bed, t
unfamiliar prospect from the opening at her feet
Slowly the circumstances of her position cre
one by one into her mind. And then a gre
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wonderment arose in her heart-a mighty wave
thankfulness and gratitude that though she ha
been in such terrible danger, yet she w
unharmed.She moved to the entrance of the shelter
look for Tarzan. He was gone; but this time n
fear assailed her for she knew that he wou
return.In the grass at the entrance to her bower sh
saw the imprint of his body where he had lain a
night to guard her. She knew that the fact that h
had been there was all that had permitted her
sleep in such peaceful security.With him near, who could entertain fear? Sh
wondered if there was another man on earth wi
whom a girl could feel so safe in the heart of th
savage African jungle. Even the lions an
panthers had no fears for her now.
She looked up to see his lithe form drop soft
from a near-by tree.
As he caught her eyes upon him his fa
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lighted with that frank and radiant smile that h
won her confidence the day before.
As he approached her Jane's heart beat fast
and her eyes brightened as they had never dobefore at the approach of any man.
He had again been gathering fruit and this h
laid at the entrance of her bower. Once more th
sat down together to eat.Jane commenced to wonder what his pla
were. Would he take her back to the beach
would he keep her here? Suddenly she realize
that the matter did not seem to give her muc
concern. Could it be that she did not care!She began to comprehend, also, that she w
entirely contented sitting here by the side of th
smiling giant eating delicious fruit in a sylva
paradise far within the remote depths of a
African jungle-that she was contented and ve
happy.
She could not understand it. Her reason to
her that she should be torn by wild anxietie
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weighted by dread fears, cast down by gloom
forebodings; but instead, her heart was singin
and she was smiling into the answering face
the man beside her.When they had finished their breakfast Tarz
went to her bower and recovered his knife. Th
girl had entirely forgotten it. She realized that
was because she had forgotten the fear thprompted her to accept it.
Motioning her to follow, Tarzan walke
toward the trees at the edge of the arena, an
taking her in one strong arm swung to t
branches above.The girl knew that he was taking her back
her people, and she could not understand th
sudden feeling of loneliness and sorrow whic
crept over her.
For hours they swung slowly along.
Tarzan of the Apes did not hurry. He tried
draw out the sweet pleasure of that journey wi
those dear arms about his neck as long
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possible, and so he went far south of the dire
route to the beach.
Several times they halted for brief rests, whi
Tarzan did not need, and at noon they stoppfor an hour at a little brook, where they quenche
their thirst, and ate.
So it was nearly sunset when they came to th
clearing, and Tarzan, dropping to the grounbeside a great tree, parted the tall jungle gra
and pointed out the little cabin to her.
She took him by the hand to lead him to it, th
she might tell her father that this man had save
her from death and worse than death, that he hawatched over her as carefully as a mother mig
have done.
But again the timidity of the wild thing in th
face of human habitation swept over Tarzan
the Apes. He drew back, shaking his head.
The girl came close to him, looking up wi
pleading eyes. Somehow she could not bear t
thought of his going back into the terrible jung
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alone.
Still he shook his head, and finally he drew h
to him very gently and stooped to kiss her, b
first he looked into her eyes and waited to leaif she were pleased, or if she would repulse him
Just an instant the girl hesitated, and then sh
realized the truth, and throwing her arms abo
his neck she drew his face to hers and kissehim-unashamed.
"I love you-I love you," she murmured.
From far in the distance came the faint soun
of many guns. Tarzan and Jane raised their hea
From the cabin came Mr. Philander anEsmeralda.
From where Tarzan and the girl stood th
could not see the two vessels lying at anchor
the harbor.
Tarzan pointed toward the sounds, touched h
breast and pointed again.
She understood. He was going, and somethin
told her that it was because he thought her peop
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were in danger.
Again he kissed her.
"Come back to me," she whispered. "I sha
wait for you-always."He was gone-and Jane turned to walk acro
the clearing to the cabin.
Mr. Philander was the first to see her. It w
dusk and Mr. Philander was very near sighted."Quickly, Esmeralda!" he cried. "Let us se
safety within; it is a lioness. Bless me!"
Esmeralda did not bother to verify M
Philander's vision. His tone was enough. She w
within the cabin and had slammed and bolted thdoor before he had finished pronouncing h
name. The "Bless me" was startled out of M
Philander by the discovery that Esmeralda, in th
exuberance of her haste, had fastened him upo
the same side of the door as was the clos
approaching lioness.
He beat furiously upon the heavy portal.
"Esmeralda! Esmeralda!" he shrieked. "Let m
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in. I am being devoured by a lion."
Esmeralda thought that the noise upon th
door was made by the lioness in her attempts
pursue her, so, after her custom, she fainted.Mr. Philander cast a frightened glance behin
him.
Horrors! The thing was quite close now. H
tried to scramble up the side of the cabin, ansucceeded in catching a fleeting hold upon th
thatched roof.
For a moment he hung there, clawing with h
feet like a cat on a clothesline, but presently
piece of the thatch came away, and Mr.Philander, preceding it, was precipitated upo
his back.
At the instant he fell a remarkable item
natural history leaped to his mind. If one feig
death lions and lionesses are supposed to igno
one, according to Mr. Philander's faulty memor
So Mr. Philander lay as he had fallen, froze
into the horrid semblance of death. As his arm
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and legs had been extended stiffly upward as h
came to earth upon his back the attitude of dea
was anything but impressive.
Jane had been watching his antics in mileyed surprise. Now she laughed-a little chokin
gurgle of a laugh; but it was enough. Mr.
Philander rolled over upon his side and peer
about. At length he discovered her."Jane!" he cried. "Jane Porter. Bless me!"
He scrambled to his feet and rushed towa
her. He could not believe that it was she, an
alive.
"Bless me!" Where did you come fromWhere in the world have you been? How-"
"Mercy, Mr. Philander," interrupted the girl,
can never remember so many questions."
"Well, well," said Mr. Philander. "Bless me
am so filled with surprise and exuberant delig
at seeing you safe and well again that I scarce
know what I am saying, really. But come, tell m
all that has happened to you."
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Chapter XXI The V illage of Torture
As the little expedition of sailors toile
through the dense jungle searching for signs
Jane Porter, the futility of their venture becam
more and more apparent, but the grief of the oman and the hopeless eyes of the youn
Englishman prevented the kind hearted D'Arn
from turning back.
He thought that there might be a ba
possibility of finding her body, or the remains it, for he was positive that she had been devoure
by some beast of prey. He deployed his men in
a skirmish line from the point where Esmerald
had been found and in this extended formatio
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they pushed their way, sweating and pantin
through the tangled vines and creepers. It w
slow work. Noon found them but a few mil
inland. They halted for a brief rest then, and aftpushing on for a short distance further one of th
men discovered a well-marked trail.
It was an old elephant track, and D'Arnot aft
consulting with Professor Porter and Claytodecided to follow it.
The path wound through the jungle in
northeasterly direction, and along it the colum
moved in single file.
Lieutenant D'Arnot was in the lead anmoving at a quick pace, for the trail w
comparatively open. Immediately behind hi
came Professor Porter, but as he could not ke
pace with the younger man D'Arnot was
hundred yards in advance when suddenly a ha
dozen black warriors arose about him.
D'Arnot gave a warning shout to his column
the blacks closed on him, but before he cou
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draw his revolver he had been pinioned an
dragged into the jungle.
His cry had alarmed the sailors and a dozen
them sprang forward past Professor Porterunning up the trail to their officer's aid.
They did not know the cause of his outcr
only that it was a warning of danger ahead. Th
had rushed past the spot where D'Arnot had beeseized when a spear hurled from the jung
transfixed one of the men, and then a volley
arrows fell among them.
Raising their rifles they fired into th
underbrush in the direction from which thmissiles had come.
By this time the balance of the party had com
up, and volley after volley was fired toward t
concealed foe. It was these shots that Tarzan an
Jane Porter had heard.
Lieutenant Charpentier, who had be
bringing up the rear of the column, now cam
running to the scene, and on hearing the detai
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of the ambush ordered the men to follow him
and plunged into the tangled vegetation.
In an instant they were in a hand-to-hand fig
with some fifty black warriors of Mbongavillage. Arrows and bullets flew thick and fast.
Queer African knives and French gun bu
mingled for a moment in savage and blood
duels, but soon the natives fled into the junglleaving the Frenchmen to count their losses.
Four of the twenty were dead, a dozen othe
were wounded, and Lieutenant D'Arnot w
missing. Night was falling rapidly, and the
predicament was rendered doubly worse whthey could not even find the elephant trail whic
they had been following.
There was but one thing to do, make cam
where they were until daylight. Lieutena
Charpentier ordered a clearing made and
circular abatis of underbrush constructed abo
the camp.
This work was not completed until long aft
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dark, the men building a huge fire in the cent
of the clearing to give them light to work by.
When all was safe as possible against attack
wild beasts and savage men, LieutenaCharpentier placed sentries about the little cam
and the tired and hungry men threw themselv
upon the ground to sleep.
The groans of the wounded, mingled with throaring and growling of the great beasts whi
the noise and firelight had attracted, kept slee
except in its most fitful form, from the tired eye
It was a sad and hungry party that lay through t
long night praying for dawn.The blacks who had seized D'Arnot had n
waited to participate in the fight which followe
but instead had dragged their prisoner a little w
through the jungle and then struck the tra
further on beyond the scene of the fighting
which their fellows were engaged.
They hurried him along, the sounds of batt
growing fainter and fainter as they drew aw
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from the contestants until there suddenly brok
upon D'Arnot's vision a good-sized clearing
one end of which stood a thatched and palisade
village.It was now dusk, but the watchers at the ga
saw the approaching trio and distinguished on
as a prisoner ere they reached the portals.
A cry went up within the palisade. A grethrong of women and children rushed out to me
the party.
And then began for the French officer the mo
terrifying experience which man can encount
upon earth-the reception of a white prisoner ina village of African cannibals.
To add to the fiendishness of their cru
savagery was the poignant memory of st
crueler barbarities practiced upon them and thei
by the white officers of that arch hypocrit
Leopold II of Belgium, because of who
atrocities they had fled the Congo Free State
pitiful remnant of what once had been a migh
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tribe.
They fell upon D'Arnot tooth and nail, beatin
him with sticks and stones and tearing at hi
with claw-like hands. Every vestige of clothinwas torn from him, and the merciless blows fe
upon his bare and quivering flesh. But not on
did the Frenchman cry out in pain.
He breathed a silent prayer that he be quickdelivered from his torture.
But the death he prayed for was not to be
easily had. Soon the warriors beat the wom
away from their prisoner. He was to be saved f
nobler sport than this, and the first wave of thepassion having subsided they content
themselves with crying out taunts and insults an
spitting upon him.
Presently they reached the center of the villag
There D'Arnot was bound securely to the gre
post from which no live man had ever bee
released.
A number of the women scattered to the
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several huts to fetch pots and water, while othe
built a row of fires on which portions of the fea
were to be boiled while the balance would b
slowly dried in strips for future use, as theexpected the other warriors to return with man
prisoners. The festivities were delayed awaitin
the return of the warriors who had remained
engage in the skirmish with the white men, that it was quite late when all were in the villag
and the dance of death commenced to circ
around the doomed officer.
Half fainting from pain and exhaustio
D'Arnot watched from beneath half-closed liwhat seemed but the vagary of delirium, or som
horrid nightmare from which he must soo
awake.
The bestial faces, daubed with color-the hug
mouths and flabby hanging lips-the yellow teet
sharp filed-the rolling, demon eyes-the shinin
naked bodies-the cruel spears. Surely no su
creatures really existed upon earth-he mu
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indeed be dreaming.
The savage, whirling bodies circled neare
Now a spear sprang forth and touched his arm
The sharp pain and the feel of hot, tricklinblood assured him of the awful reality of h
hopeless position.
Another spear and then another touched him
He closed his eyes and held his teeth firm set-hwould not cry out.
He was a soldier of France, and he wou
teach these beasts how an officer and
gentleman died.
Tarzan of the Apes needed no interpreter translate the story of those distant shots. Wi
Jane Porter's kisses still warm upon his lips h
was swinging with incredible rapidity throug
the forest trees straight toward the village
Mbonga.
He was not interested in the location of th
encounter, for he judged that that would soon b
over. Those who were killed he could not ai
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those who escaped would not need his assistanc
It was to those who had neither been killed
escaped that he hastened. And he knew that h
would find them by the great post in the center Mbonga village.
Many times had Tarzan seen Mbonga's blac
raiding parties return from the northward wi
prisoners, and always were the same scenenacted about that grim stake, beneath the flarin
light of many fires.
He knew, too, that they seldom lost much tim
before consummating the fiendish purpose
their captures. He doubted that he would arrivin time to do more than avenge.
On he sped. Night had fallen and he travele
high along the upper terrace where the gorgeo
tropic moon lighted the dizzy pathway throug
the gently undulating branches of the tree tops.
Presently he caught the reflection of a dista
blaze. It lay to the right of his path. It must be th
light from the camp fire the two men had bu
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before they were attacked-Tarzan knew nothin
of the presence of the sailors.
So sure was Tarzan of his jungle knowledg
that he did not turn from his course, but passthe glare at a distance of a half mile. It was th
camp fire of the Frenchmen.
In a few minutes more Tarzan swung into t
trees above Mbonga's village. Ah, he was nquite too late! Or, was he? He could not tell. Th
figure at the stake was very still, yet the bla
warriors were but pricking it.
Tarzan knew their customs. The death blo
had not been struck. He could tell almost tominute how far the dance had gone.
In another instant Mbonga's knife would sev
one of the victim's ears-that would mark th
beginning of the end, for very shortly after only
writhing mass of mutilated flesh would remain.
There would still be life in it, but death the
would be the only charity it craved.
The stake stood forty feet from the nearest tr
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Tarzan coiled his rope. Then there rose sudden
above the fiendish cries of the dancing demo
the awful challenge of the ape-man.
The dancers halted as though turned to stone.The rope sped with singing whir high abov
the heads of the blacks. It was quite invisible
the flaring lights of the camp fires.
D'Arnot opened his eyes. A huge blacstanding directly before him, lunged backward
though felled by an invisible hand.
Struggling and shrieking, his body, rollin
from side to side, moved quickly toward th
shadows beneath the trees.The blacks, their eyes protruding in horro
watched spellbound.
Once beneath the trees, the body rose straig
into the air, and as it disappeared into the foliag
above, the terrified negroes, screaming wi
fright, broke into a mad race for the village gate
D'Arnot was left alone.
He was a brave man, but he had felt the sho
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hairs bristle upon the nape of his neck when th
uncanny cry rose upon the air.
As the writhing body of the black soared,
though by unearthly power, into the denfoliage of the forest, D'Arnot felt an icy shiv
run along his spine, as though death had ris
from a dark grave and laid a cold and clamm
finger on his flesh.As D'Arnot watched the spot where the bod
had entered the tree he heard the sounds
movement there.
The branches swayed as though under t
weight of a man's body-there was a crash and thblack came sprawling to earth again,-to lie ve
quietly where he had fallen.
Immediately after him came a white body, b
this one alighted erect.
D'Arnot saw a clean-limbed young gia
emerge from the shadows into the firelight an
come quickly toward him.
What could it mean? Who could it be? Som
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new creature of torture and destruction, doubtle
D'Arnot waited. His eyes never left the face
the advancing man.
Nor did the other's frank, clear eyes wavbeneath D'Arnot's fixed gaze.
D'Arnot was reassured, but still without mu
hope, though he felt that that face could not ma
a cruel heart.Without a word Tarzan of the Apes cut t
bonds which held the Frenchman. Weak fro
suffering and loss of blood, he would have falle
but for the strong arm that caught him.
He felt himself lifted from the ground. Thewas a sensation as of flying, and then he lo
consciousness.
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Chapter XXII
The S earch P arty
When dawn broke upon the little camp
Frenchmen in the heart of the jungle it found
sad and disheartened group.
As soon as it was light enough to see thesurroundings Lieutenant Charpentier sent men
groups of three in several directions to locate t
trail, and in ten minutes it was found and th
expedition was hurrying back toward the beach
It was slow work, for they bore the bodies six dead men, two more having succumbe
during the night, and several of those who we
wounded required support to move even ve
slowly
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Charpentier had decided to return to camp f
reinforcements, and then make an attempt
track down the natives and rescue D'Arnot.
It was late in the afternoon when the exhaustmen reached the clearing by the beach, but f
two of them the return brought so great
happiness that all their suffering an
heartbreaking grief was forgotten on the instantAs the little party emerged from the jungle th
first person that Professor Porter and Cec
Clayton saw was Jane, standing by the cab
door.
With a little cry of joy and relief she rforward to greet them, throwing her arms abo
her father's neck and bursting into tears for t
first time since they had been cast upon th
hideous and adventurous shore.
Professor Porter strove manfully to suppre
his own emotions, but the strain upon his nerv
and weakened vitality were too much for him
and at length, burying his old face in the gir
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shoulder, he sobbed quietly like a tired child.
Jane led him toward the cabin, and t
Frenchmen turned toward the beach from whic
several of their fellows were advancing to methem.
Clayton, wishing to leave father and daught
alone, joined the sailors and remained talkin
with the officers until their boat pulled awtoward the cruiser whither Lieutena
Charpentier was bound to report the unhapp
outcome of his adventure.
Then Clayton turned back slowly toward th
cabin. His heart was filled with happiness. Twoman he loved was safe.
He wondered by what manner of miracle sh
had been spared. To see her alive seemed almo
unbelievable.
As he approached the cabin he saw Jan
coming out. When she saw him she hurrie
forward to meet him.
"Jane!" he cried, "God has been good to u
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indeed. Tell me how you escaped-what for
Providence took to save you for-us."
He had never before called her by her giv
name. Forty-eight hours before it would havsuffused Jane with a soft glow of pleasure
have heard that name from Clayton's lips-now
frightened her.
"Mr. Clayton," she said quietly, extending hhand, "first let me thank you for your chivalro
loyalty to my dear father. He has told me ho
noble and self-sacrificing you have been. Ho
can we repay you!"
Clayton noticed that she did not return hfamiliar salutation, but he felt no misgivings o
that score. She had been through so much. Th
was no time to force his love upon her,
quickly realized.
"I am already repaid," he said. "Just to see yo
and Professor Porter both safe, well, and togeth
again. I do not think that I could much long
have endured the pathos of his quiet an
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uncomplaining grief.
"It was the saddest experience of my life, Mi
Porter; and then, added to it, there was my ow
grief-the greatest I have ever known. But his wso hopeless-his was pitiful. It taught me that n
love, not even that of a man for his wife may b
so deep and terrible and self-sacrificing as th
love of a father for his daughter."The girl bowed her head. There was a questio
she wanted to ask, but it seemed almo
sacrilegious in the face of the love of these tw
men and the terrible suffering they had endure
while she sat laughing and happy beside godlike creature of the forest, eating delicio
fruits and looking with eyes of love in
answering eyes.
But love is a strange master, and human natu
is still stranger, so she asked her question.
"Where is the forest man who went to rescu
you? Why did he not return?"
"I do not understand," said Clayton. "Who
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do you mean?"
"He who has saved each of us-who saved m
from the gorilla."
"Oh," cried Clayton, in surprise. "It was who rescued you? You have not told m
anything of your adventure, you know."
"But the wood man," she urged. "Have you n
seen him? When we heard the shots in the junglvery faint and far away, he left me. We had ju
reached the clearing, and he hurried off in th
direction of the fighting. I know he went to a
you."
Her tone was almost pleading-her manntense with suppressed emotion.
Clayton could not but notice it, and h
wondered, vaguely, why she was so deep
moved-so anxious to know the whereabouts
this strange creature.
Yet a feeling of apprehension of som
impending sorrow haunted him, and in his brea
unknown to himself, was implanted the fir
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germ of jealousy and suspicion of the ape-ma
to whom he owed his life.
"We did not see him," he replied quietly. "H
did not join us." And then after a moment thoughtful pause: "Possibly he joined his ow
tribe-the men who attacked us." He did not kno
why he had said it, for he did not believe it.
The girl looked at him wide eyed for moment.
"No!" she exclaimed vehemently, much to
vehemently he thought. "It could not be. Th
were savages."
Clayton looked puzzled."He is a strange, half-savage creature of th
jungle, Miss Porter. We know nothing of hi
He neither speaks nor understands any Europe
tongue-and his ornaments and weapons are tho
of the West Coast savages."
Clayton was speaking rapidly.
"There are no other human beings th
savages within hundreds of miles, Miss Porte
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He must belong to the tribes which attacked u
or to some other equally savage-he may even b
a cannibal."
Jane blanched."I will not believe it," she half whispered.
is not true. You shall see," she said, addressin
Clayton, "that he will come back and that he w
prove that you are wrong. You do not know hias I do. I tell you that he is a gentleman."
Clayton was a generous and chivalrous ma
but something in the girl's breathless defense
the forest man stirred him to unreasonin
jealousy, so that for the instant he forgot all ththey owed to this wild demi-god, and
answered her with a half sneer upon his lip.
"Possibly you are right, Miss Porter," he sai
"but I do not think that any of us need wor
about our carrion-eating acquaintance. Th
chances are that he is some half-dement
castaway who will forget us more quickly, but n
more surely, than we shall forget him. He is on
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a beast of the jungle, Miss Porter."
The girl did not answer, but she felt her hea
shrivel within her.
She knew that Clayton spoke merely what hthought, and for the first time she began
analyze the structure which supported h
newfound love, and to subject its object to
critical examination.Slowly she turned and walked back to th
cabin. She tried to imagine her wood-god by h
side in the saloon of an ocean liner. She saw hi
eating with his hands, tearing his food like
beast of prey, and wiping his greasy fingers upohis thighs. She shuddered.
She saw him as she introduced him to h
friends-uncouth, illiterate-a boor; and the g
winced.
She had reached her room now, and as she s
upon the edge of her bed of ferns and grasse
with one hand resting upon her rising and fallin
bosom, she felt the hard outlines of the man
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locket.
She drew it out, holding it in the palm of h
hand for a moment with tear-blurred eyes be
upon it. Then she raised it to her lips, ancrushing it there buried her face in the soft fern
sobbing.
"Beast?" she murmured. "Then God make m
a beast; for, man or beast, I am yours."She did not see Clayton again that da
Esmeralda brought her supper to her, and sh
sent word to her father that she was sufferin
from the reaction following her adventure.
The next morning Clayton left early with trelief expedition in search of Lieutenant D'Arno
There were two hundred armed men this tim
with ten officers and two surgeons, an
provisions for a week.
They carried bedding and hammocks, th
latter for transporting their sick and wounded.
It was a determined and angry company
punitive expedition as well as one of relief. Th
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reached the sight of the skirmish of the previo
expedition shortly after noon, for they were no
traveling a known trail and no time was lost
exploring.From there on the elephant-track led straig
to Mbonga's village. It was but two o'clock whe
the head of the column halted upon the edge
the clearing.Lieutenant Charpentier, who was in comman
immediately sent a portion of his force throug
the jungle to the opposite side of the village.
Another detachment was dispatched to a poi
before the village gate, while he remained withe balance upon the south side of the clearing.
It was arranged that the party which was
take its position to the north, and which would b
the last to gain its station should commence t
assault, and that their opening volley should b
the signal for a concerted rush from all sides
an attempt to carry the village by storm at th
first charge.
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For half an hour the men with Lieutena
Charpentier crouched in the dense foliage of th
jungle, waiting the signal. To them it seemed lik
hours. They could see natives in the fields, anothers moving in and out of the village gate.
At length the signal came-a sharp rattle
musketry, and like one man, an answering volle
tore from the jungle to the west and to the southThe natives in the field dropped the
implements and broke madly for the palisad
The French bullets mowed them down, and th
French sailors bounded over their prostra
bodies straight for the village gate.So sudden and unexpected the assault ha
been that the whites reached the gates before t
frightened natives could bar them, and in anoth
minute the village street was filled with arme
men fighting hand to hand in an inextricab
tangle.
For a few moments the blacks held the
ground within the entrance to the street, but th
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revolvers, rifles and cutlasses of the Frenchm
crumpled the native spearmen and struck dow
the black archers with their bows halfdrawn.
Soon the battle turned to a wild rout, and theto a grim massacre; for the French sailors ha
seen bits of D'Arnot's uniform upon several
the black warriors who opposed them.
They spared the children and those of thwomen whom they were not forced to kill
self-defense, but when at length they stoppe
parting, blood covered and sweating, it w
because there lived to oppose them no sing
warrior of all the savage village of Mbonga.Carefully they ransacked every hut and corn
of the village, but no sign of D'Arnot could th
find. They questioned the prisoners by signs, an
finally one of the sailors who had served in th
French Congo found that he could make the
understand the bastard tongue that passes f
language between the whites and the mo
degraded tribes of the coast, but even then the
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could learn nothing definite regarding the fate
D'Arnot.
Only excited gestures and expressions of fe
could they obtain in response to their inquiriconcerning their fellow; and at last they becam
convinced that these were but evidences of t
guilt of these demons who had slaughtered an
eaten their comrade two nights before.At length all hope left them, and they prepare
to camp for the night within the village. Th
prisoners were herded into three huts where th
were heavily guarded. Sentries were posted at t
barred gates, and finally the village was wrappein the silence of slumber, except for the wailin
of the native women for their dead.
The next morning they set out upon the retu
march. Their original intention had been to bu
the village, but this idea was abandoned and th
prisoners were left behind, weeping and moanin
but with roofs to cover them and a palisade f
refuge from the beasts of the jungle.
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Slowly the expedition retraced its steps of th
preceding day. Ten loaded hammocks retard
its pace. In eight of them lay the more serious
wounded, while two swung beneath the weigof the dead.
Clayton and Lieutenant Charpentier broug
up the rear of the column; the Englishman sile
in respect for the other's grief, for D'Arnot anCharpentier had been inseparable friends sin
boyhood.
Clayton could not but realize that t
Frenchman felt his grief the more keenly becau
D'Arnot's sacrifice had been so futile, since Janhad been rescued before D'Arnot had fallen in
the hands of the savages, and again because t
service in which he had lost his life had bee
outside his duty and for strangers and aliens; b
when he spoke of it to Lieutenant Charpentie
the latter shook his head.
"No, Monsieur," he said, "D'Arnot would hav
chosen to die thus. I only grieve that I could n
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have died for him, or at least with him.
I wish that you could have known him bette
Monsieur. He was indeed an officer and
gentleman-a title conferred on many, bdeserved by so few.
"He did not die futilely, for his death in t
cause of a strange American girl will make u
his comrades, face our ends the more bravelhowever they may come to us."
Clayton did not reply, but within him rose
new respect for Frenchmen which remaine
undimmed ever after.
It was quite late when they reached the cabby the beach. A single shot before they emerge
from the jungle had announced to those in cam
as well as on the ship that the expedition ha
been too late-for it had been prearranged th
when they came within a mile or two of cam
one shot was to be fired to denote failure,
three for success, while two would hav
indicated that they had found no sign of eith
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D'Arnot or his black captors.
So it was a solemn party that awaited the
coming, and few words were spoken as the de
and wounded men were tenderly placed in boaand rowed silently toward the cruiser.
Clayton, exhausted from his five days
laborious marching through the jungle and fro
the effects of his two battles with the blackturned toward the cabin to seek a mouthful
food and then the comparative ease of his bed
grasses after two nights in the jungle.
By the cabin door stood Jane.
"The poor lieutenant?" she asked. "Did yofind no trace of him?"
"We were too late, Miss Porter," he replie
sadly.
"Tell me. What had happened?" she asked.
"I cannot, Miss Porter, it is too horrible."
"You do not mean that they had tortured him
she whispered.
"We do not know what they did to hi
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BEFORE they killed him," he answered, his fa
drawn with fatigue and the sorrow he felt f
poor D'Arnot and he emphasized the word befo
"BEFORE they killed him! What do you meThey are not-? They are not-?"
She was thinking of what Clayton had said
the forest man's probable relationship to this trib
and she could not frame the awful word."Yes, Miss Porter, they were-cannibals," h
said, almost bitterly, for to him too had sudden
come the thought of the forest man, and t
strange, unaccountable jealousy he had felt tw
days before swept over him once more.And then in sudden brutality that was as unlik
Clayton as courteous consideration is unlike
ape, he blurted out:
"When your forest god left you he w
doubtless hurrying to the feast."
He was sorry ere the words were spok
though he did not know how cruelly they had c
the girl. His regret was for his baseless disloyal
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to one who had saved the lives of every memb
of his party, and offered harm to none.
The girl's head went high.
"There could be but one suitable reply to yoassertion, Mr. Clayton," she said icily, "and
regret that I am not a man, that I might make it
She turned quickly and entered the cabin.
Clayton was an Englishman, so the girl hapassed quite out of sight before he deduced wh
reply a man would have made.
"Upon my word," he said ruefully, "she calle
me a liar. And I fancy I jolly well deserved it
he added thoughtfully. "Clayton, my boy, I knoyou are tired out and unstrung, but that's n
reason why you should make an ass of yourse
You'd better go to bed."
But before he did so he called gently to Ja
upon the opposite side of the sailcloth partitio
for he wished to apologize, but he might as we
have addressed the Sphinx. Then he wrote upo
a piece of paper and shoved it beneath th
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partition.
Jane saw the little note and ignored it, for s
was very angry and hurt and mortified, but-sh
was a woman, and so eventually she picked it uand read it.
MY DEAR MISS PORTER:
I had no reason to insinuate what I did. Monly excuse is that my nerves must be unstrun
which is no excuse at all.
Please try and think that I did not say it. I a
very sorry. I would not have hurt YOU, above
others in the world. Say that you forgive me.WM. CECIL CLAYTON.
"He did think it or he never would have sa
it," reasoned the girl, "but it cannot be true-oh
know it is not true!"
One sentence in the letter frightened her:
would not have hurt YOU above all others in th
world."
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A week ago that sentence would have fille
her with delight, now it depressed her.
She wished she had never met Clayton. S
was sorry that she had ever seen the forest goNo, she was glad. And there was that other no
she had found in the grass before the cabin th
day after her return from the jungle, the love no
signed by Tarzan of the Apes.Who could be this new suitor? If he we
another of the wild denizens of this terrible fore
what might he not do to claim her?
"Esmeralda! Wake up," she cried.
"You make me so irritable, sleeping thepeacefully when you know perfectly well that t
world is filled with sorrow."
"Gaberelle!" screamed Esmeralda, sitting u
"What is it now? A hipponocerous? Where is h
Miss Jane?"
"Nonsense, Esmeralda, there is nothing. G
back to sleep. You are bad enough asleep, b
you are infinitely worse awake."
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"Yes honey, but what's the matter with yo
precious? You acts sort of disgranulated th
evening."
"Oh, Esmeralda, I'm just plain ugly to-nightsaid the girl. "Don't pay any attention to m
that's a dear."
"Yes, honey; now you go right to sleep. Yo
nerves are all on edge.What with all these ripotamuses and m
eating geniuses that Mister Philander been tellin
about-Lord, it ain't no wonder we all get nervo
prosecution."
Jane crossed the little room, laughing, ankissing the faithful woman, bid Esmeralda goo
night.
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Chapter XXIII
B rother M en
When D'Arnot regained consciousness, h
found himself lying upon a bed of soft ferns an
grasses beneath a little "A" shaped shelter
boughs.At his feet an opening looked out upon a gre
sward, and at a little distance beyond was th
dense wall of jungle and forest.
He was very lame and sore and weak, and
full consciousness returned he felt the shatorture of many cruel wounds and the dull achin
of every bone and muscle in his body as a resu
of the hideous beating he had received.
Even the turning of his head caused him su
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excruciating agony that he lay still with close
eyes for a long time.
He tried to piece out the details of h
adventure prior to the time he lost consciousneto see if they would explain his prese
whereabouts-he wondered if he were amon
friends or foes.
At length he recollected the whole hideoscene at the stake, and finally recalled the stran
white figure in whose arms he had sunk in
oblivion.
D'Arnot wondered what fate lay in store f
him now. He could neither see nor hear any sigof life about him.
The incessant hum of the jungle-the rustling
millions of leaves-the buzz of insects-the voic
of the birds and monkeys seemed blended into
strangely soothing purr, as though he lay apa
far from the myriad life whose sounds came
him only as a blurred echo.
At length he fell into a quiet slumber, nor d
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he awake again until afternoon.
Once more he experienced the strange sense
utter bewilderment that had marked his earli
awakening, but soon he recalled the recent paand looking through the opening at his feet h
saw the figure of a man squatting on h
haunches.
The broad, muscular back was turned towahim, but, tanned though it was, D'Arnot saw th
it was the back of a white man, and he thanke
God.
The Frenchman called faintly. The man turn
and rising, came toward the shelter. His face wvery handsome-the handsomest, thought D'Arn
that he had ever seen.
Stooping, he crawled into the shelter besid
the wounded officer, and placed a cool han
upon his forehead.
D'Arnot spoke to him in French, but the ma
only shook his head-sadly, it seemed to t
Frenchman.
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Then D'Arnot tried English, but still the ma
shook his head. Italian, Spanish and Germ
brought similar discouragement.
D'Arnot knew a few words of NorwegiaRussian, Greek, and also had a smattering of t
language of one of the West Coast negro tribe
the man denied them all.
After examining D'Arnot's wounds the mleft the shelter and disappeared. In half an ho
he was back with fruit and a hollow gourd-lik
vegetable filled with water.
D'Arnot drank and ate a little. He w
surprised that he had no fever.Again he tried to converse with his strang
nurse, but the attempt was useless.
Suddenly the man hastened from the shelt
only to return a few minutes later with sever
pieces of bark and-wonder of wonders-a le
pencil.
Squatting beside D'Arnot he wrote for
minute on the smooth inner surface of the bar
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then he handed it to the Frenchman.
D'Arnot was astonished to see, in plain prin
like characters, a message in English:
I am Tarzan of the Apes. Who are you? Cyou read this language?
D'Arnot seized the pencil-then he stoppe
This strange man wrote English-evidently he w
an Englishman."Yes," said D'Arnot, "I read English. I speak
also. Now we may talk. First let me thank yo
for all that you have done for me."
The man only shook his head and pointed
the pencil and the bark."MON DIEU!" cried D'Arnot. "If you a
English why is it then that you cannot spea
English?"
And then in a flash it came to him-the m
was a mute, possibly a deaf mute.
So D'Arnot wrote a message on the bark,
English.
I am Paul d'Arnot, Lieutenant in the navy
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France. I thank you for what you have done f
me. You have saved my life, and all that I have
yours. May I ask how it is that one who writ
English does not speak it?Tarzan's reply filled D'Arnot with still great
wonder:
I speak only the language of my tribe-the gre
apes who were Kerchak's; and a little of thlanguages of Tantor, the elephant, and Numa, t
lion, and of the other folks of the jungle
understand.
With a human being I have never spoke
except once with Jane Porter, by signs. This the first time I have spoken with another of m
kind through written words.
D'Arnot was mystified. It seemed incredib
that there lived upon earth a full-grown man wh
had never spoken with a fellow man, and st
more preposterous that such a one could read an
write.
He looked again at Tarzan's message-"exce
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once, with Jane Porter."
That was the American girl who had be
carried into the jungle by a gorilla.
A sudden light commenced to dawn oD'Arnot-this then was the "gorilla." He seized th
pencil and wrote:
Where is Jane Porter?
And Tarzan replied, below:Back with her people in the cabin of Tarzan
the Apes.
She is not dead then? Where was she? Wh
happened to her?
She is not dead. She was taken by Terkoz be his wife; but Tarzan of the Apes took h
away from Terkoz and killed him before h
could harm her.
None in all the jungle may face Tarzan of th
Apes in battle, and live.
I am Tarzan of the Apes-mighty fighter.
D'Arnot wrote:
I am glad she is safe. It pains me to write
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will rest a while.
And then Tarzan:
Yes, rest. When you are well I shall take yo
back to your people.For many days D'Arnot lay upon his bed
soft ferns. The second day a fever had come an
D'Arnot thought that it meant infection and h
knew that he would die.An idea came to him. He wondered why
had not thought of it before.
He called Tarzan and indicated by signs th
he would write, and when Tarzan had fetched th
bark and pencil, D'Arnot wrote:Can you go to my people and lead them her
I will write a message that you may take to them
and they will follow you.
Tarzan shook his head and taking the bar
wrote:
I had thought of that-the first day; but I dar
not. The great apes come often to this spot, and
they found you here, wounded and alone, th
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would kill you.
D'Arnot turned on his side and closed his eye
He did not wish to die; but he felt that he w
going, for the fever was mounting higher anhigher. That night he lost consciousness.
For three days he was in delirium, and Tarz
sat beside him and bathed his head and han
and washed his wounds.On the fourth day the fever broke as sudden
as it had come, but it left D'Arnot a shadow
his former self, and very weak. Tarzan had to l
him that he might drink from the gourd.
The fever had not been the result of infectioas D'Arnot had thought, but one of those th
commonly attack whites in the jungles of Afric
and either kill or leave them as suddenly
D'Arnot's had left him.
Two days later, D'Arnot was tottering abo
the amphitheater, Tarzan's strong arm about hi
to keep him from falling.
They sat beneath the shade of a great tree, an
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Tarzan found some smooth bark that they mig
converse.
D'Arnot wrote the first message:
What can I do to repay you for all that yohave done for me?
And Tarzan, in reply:
Teach me to speak the language of men.
And so D'Arnot commenced at once, pointinout familiar objects and repeating their names
French, for he thought that it would be easier
teach this man his own language, since h
understood it himself best of all.
It meant nothing to Tarzan, of course, for hcould not tell one language from another,
when he pointed to the word man which he ha
printed upon a piece of bark he learned fro
D'Arnot that it was pronounced HOMME, and
the same way he was taught to pronounce ap
SINGE and tree, ARBRE.
He was a most eager student, and in two mo
days had mastered so much French that he cou
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speak little sentences such as: "That is a tree,"
"this is grass," "I am hungry," and the like, b
D'Arnot found that it was difficult to teach hi
the French construction upon a foundation English.
The Frenchman wrote little lessons for him
English and had Tarzan repeat them in Frenc
but as a literal translation was usually very poFrench Tarzan was often confused.
D'Arnot realized now that he had made
mistake, but it seemed too late to go back and d
it all over again and force Tarzan to unlearn a
that he had learned, especially as they werapidly approaching a point where they would b
able to converse.
On the third day after the fever broke Tarz
wrote a message asking D'Arnot if he felt stron
enough to be carried back to the cabin.
Tarzan was as anxious to go as D'Arnot, for h
longed to see Jane again.
It had been hard for him to remain with t
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Frenchman all these days for that very reaso
and that he had unselfishly done so spoke mo
glowingly of his nobility of character than ev
did his rescuing the French officer froMbonga's clutches.
D'Arnot, only too willing to attempt th
journey, wrote:
But you cannot carry me all the distanthrough this tangled forest.
Tarzan laughed.
"MAIS OUI," he said, and D'Arnot laughe
aloud to hear the phrase that he used so ofte
glide from Tarzan's tongue.So they set out, D'Arnot marveling as ha
Clayton and Jane at the wondrous strength an
agility of the apeman.
Mid-afternoon brought them to the clearin
and as Tarzan dropped to earth from the branch
of the last tree his heart leaped and bounde
against his ribs in anticipation of seeing Jane
soon again.
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No one was in sight outside the cabin, an
D'Arnot was perplexed to note that neither th
cruiser nor the Arrow was at anchor in the bay.
An atmosphere of loneliness pervaded the spwhich caught suddenly at both men as th
strode toward the cabin.
Neither spoke, yet both knew before th
opened the closed door what they would finbeyond.
Tarzan lifted the latch and pushed the gre
door in upon its wooden hinges. It was as th
had feared. The cabin was deserted.
The men turned and looked at one anotheD'Arnot knew that his people thought him dea
but Tarzan thought only of the woman who ha
kissed him in love and now had fled from hi
while he was serving one of her people.
A great bitterness rose in his heart. He wou
go away, far into the jungle and join his trib
Never would he see one of his own kind agai
nor could he bear the thought of returning to th
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cabin. He would leave that forever behind hi
with the great hopes he had nursed there
finding his own race and becoming a man amon
men.And the Frenchman? D'Arnot? What of him
He could get along as Tarzan had. Tarzan did n
want to see him more. He wanted to get aw
from everything that might remind him of Jane.As Tarzan stood upon the threshold broodin
D'Arnot had entered the cabin. Many comforts h
saw that had been left behind. He recognize
numerous articles from the cruiser-a camp ove
some kitchen utensils, a rifle and many rounds ammunition, canned foods, blankets, two chai
and a cot-and several books and periodica
mostly American.
"They must intend returning," thought D'Arn
He walked over to the table that John Clayto
had built so many years before to serve as a des
and on it he saw two notes addressed to Tarz
of the Apes.
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One was in a strong masculine hand and w
unsealed. The other, in a woman's hand, w
sealed.
"Here are two messages for you, Tarzan of thApes," cried D'Arnot, turning toward the doo
but his companion was not there.
D'Arnot walked to the door and looked ou
Tarzan was nowhere in sight. He called aloud bthere was no response.
"MON DIEU!" exclaimed D'Arnot, "he h
left me. I feel it. He has gone back into his jung
and left me here alone."
And then he remembered the look on Tarzanface when they had discovered that the cabin w
empty-such a look as the hunter sees in the ey
of the wounded deer he has wantonly broug
down.
The man had been hard hit-D'Arnot realized
now-but why? He could not understand.
The Frenchman looked about him. Th
loneliness and the horror of the pla
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commenced to get on his nerves-alread
weakened by the ordeal of suffering and sickne
he had passed through.
To be left here alone beside this awful junglnever to hear a human voice or see a human fac
in constant dread of savage beasts and mo
terribly savage men-a prey to solitude an
hopelessness. It was awful.And far to the east Tarzan of the Apes w
speeding through the middle terrace back to h
tribe. Never had he traveled with such reckle
speed. He felt that he was running away fro
himself-that by hurtling through the forest likefrightened squirrel he was escaping from his ow
thoughts. But no matter how fast he went h
found them always with him.
He passed above the sinuous body of Sabo
the lioness, going in the opposite directio
toward the cabin, thought Tarzan.
What could D'Arnot do against Sabor-or
Bolgani, the gorilla, should come upon him-
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Numa, the lion, or cruel Sheeta?
Tarzan paused in his flight.
"What are you, Tarzan?" he asked aloud. "A
ape or a man?""If you are an ape you will do as the ap
would do-leave one of your kind to die in th
jungle if it suited your whim to go elsewhere.
"If you are a man, you will return to proteyour kind. You will not run away from one
your own people, because one of them has ru
away from you."
D'Arnot closed the cabin door. He was ve
nervous. Even brave men, and D'Arnot wasbrave man, are sometimes frightened by solitud
He loaded one of the rifles and placed it with
easy reach. Then he went to the desk and took u
the unsealed letter addressed to Tarzan.
Possibly it contained word that his people ha
but left the beach temporarily. He felt that
would be no breach of ethics to read this lette
so he took the enclosure from the envelope an
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read:
TO TARZAN OF THE APES:
We thank you for the use of your cabin, anare sorry that you did not permit us the pleasu
of seeing and thanking you in person.
We have harmed nothing, but have left man
things for you which may add to your comfoand safety here in your lonely home.
If you know the strange white man who save
our lives so many times, and brought us foo
and if you can converse with him, thank him
also, for his kindness.We sail within the hour, never to return; b
we wish you and that other jungle friend to kno
that we shall always thank you for what you d
for strangers on your shore, and that we shou
have done infinitely more to reward you both ha
you given us the opportunity.
Very respectfully,
WM. CECIL CLAYTON.
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"'Never to return,'" muttered D'Arnot, an
threw himself face downward upon the cot.
An hour later he started up listeninSomething was at the door trying to enter.
D'Arnot reached for the loaded rifle an
placed it to his shoulder.
Dusk was falling, and the interior of the cabwas very dark; but the man could see the latc
moving from its place.
He felt his hair rising upon his scalp.
Gently the door opened until a thin crac
showed something standing just beyond.D'Arnot sighted along the blue barrel at th
crack of the door-and then he pulled the trigger.
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Chapter XXIV L ost T reasure
When the expedition returned, followin
their fruitless endeavor to succor D'Arno
Captain Dufranne was anxious to steam away
quickly as possible, and all save Jane hacquiesced.
"No," she said, determinedly, "I shall not g
nor should you, for there are two friends in th
jungle who will come out of it some d
expecting to find us awaiting them."Your officer, Captain Dufranne, is one
them, and the forest man who has saved the liv
of every member of my father's party is the othe
"He left me at the edge of the jungle two da
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ago to hasten to the aid of my father and M
Clayton, as he thought, and he has stayed
rescue Lieutenant D'Arnot; of that you may
sure."Had he been too late to be of service to th
lieutenant he would have been back before now
the fact that he is not back is sufficient proof
me that he is delayed because LieutenaD'Arnot is wounded, or he has had to follow h
captors further than the village which yo
sailors attacked."
"But poor D'Arnot's uniform and all h
belongings were found in that village, MiPorter," argued the captain, "and the nativ
showed great excitement when questioned as
the white man's fate."
"Yes, Captain, but they did not admit that
was dead and as for his clothes an
accouterments being in their possession-wh
more civilized peoples than these poor savag
negroes strip their prisoners of every article
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value whether they intend killing them or not.
"Even the soldiers of my own dear Sou
looted not only the living but the dead. It
strong circumstantial evidence, I will admit, bit is not positive proof."
"Possibly your forest man, himself w
captured or killed by the savages," suggest
Captain Dufranne.The girl laughed.
"You do not know him," she replied, a litt
thrill of pride setting her nerves a-tingle at th
thought that she spoke of her own.
"I admit that he would be worth waiting fothis superman of yours," laughed the captain.
most certainly should like to see him."
"Then wait for him, my dear captain," urge
the girl, "for I intend doing so."
The Frenchman would have been a very muc
surprised man could he have interpreted the tr
meaning of the girl's words.
They had been walking from the beach towa
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the cabin as they talked, and now they joined
little group sitting on camp stools in the shade
a great tree beside the cabin.
Professor Porter was there, and Mr. Philandand Clayton, with Lieutenant Charpentier an
two of his brother officers, while Esmerald
hovered in the background, ever and ano
venturing opinions and comments with tfreedom of an old and much-indulged fami
servant.
The officers arose and saluted as their superi
approached, and Clayton surrendered his cam
stool to Jane."We were just discussing poor Paul's fate
said Captain Dufranne.
"Miss Porter insists that we have no absolu
proof of his death-nor have we. And on the oth
hand she maintains that the continued absence
your omnipotent jungle friend indicates th
D'Arnot is still in need of his services, eith
because he is wounded, or still is a prisoner in
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more distant native village."
"It has been suggested," ventured Lieutena
Charpentier, "that the wild man may have been
member of the tribe of blacks who attacked oparty-that he was hastening to aid THEM-h
own people."
Jane shot a quick glance at Clayton.
"It seems vastly more reasonable," saProfessor Porter.
"I do not agree with you," objected M
Philander. "He had ample opportunity to harm
himself, or to lead his people against us.
Instead, during our long residence here, he hbeen uniformly consistent in his role of protect
and provider."
"That is true," interjected Clayton, "yet w
must not overlook the fact that except for himse
the only human beings within hundreds of mil
are savage cannibals. He was armed precisely
are they, which indicates that he has maintaine
relations of some nature with them, and the fa
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that he is but one against possibly thousan
suggests that these relations could scarcely hav
been other than friendly."
"It seems improbable then that he is nconnected with them," remarked the captai
"possibly a member of this tribe."
"Otherwise," added another of the officer
"how could he have lived a sufficient length time among the savage denizens of the jungl
brute and human, to have become proficient
woodcraft, or in the use of African weapons."
"You are judging him according to your ow
standards, gentlemen," said Jane. "An ordinawhite man such as any of you-pardon me, I d
not mean just that-rather, a white man above th
ordinary in physique and intelligence could nev
I grant you, have lived a year alone and naked
this tropical jungle; but this man not on
surpasses the average white man in strength an
agility, but as far transcends our trained athlet
and 'strong men' as they surpass a day-old bab
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and his courage and ferocity in battle are those
the wild beast."
"He has certainly won a loyal champion, Mi
Porter," said Captain Dufranne, laughing. "I asure that there be none of us here but wou
willingly face death a hundred times in its mo
terrifying forms to deserve the tributes of o
even half so loyal-or so beautiful.""You would not wonder that I defend him
said the girl, "could you have seen him as I sa
him, battling in my behalf with that huge hai
brute.
"Could you have seen him charge the monstas a bull might charge a grizzly-absolute
without sign of fear or hesitation-you would ha
believed him more than human.
"Could you have seen those mighty muscl
knotting under the brown skin-could you hav
seen them force back those awful fangs-you to
would have thought him invincible.
"And could you have seen the chivalro
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treatment which he accorded a strange girl of
strange race, you would feel the same absolu
confidence in him that I feel."
"You have won your suit, my fair pleadercried the captain. "This court finds the defenda
not guilty, and the cruiser shall wait a few da
longer that he may have an opportunity to com
and thank the divine Portia.""For the Lord's sake honey," cried Esmerald
"You all don't mean to tell ME that you're goin
to stay right here in this here land of carnivab
animals when you all got the opportunity
escapade on that boat? Don't you tell me THAhoney."
"Why, Esmeralda! You should be ashamed
yourself," cried Jane. "Is this any way to sho
your gratitude to the man who saved your li
twice?"
"Well, Miss Jane, that's all jest as you say; b
that there forest man never did save us to st
here. He done save us so we all could g
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AWAY from here. I expect he be mighty peevi
when he find we ain't got no more sense than
stay right here after he done give us the chance
get away."I hoped I'd never have to sleep in this he
geological garden another night and listen to a
them lonesome noises that come out of th
jumble after dark.""I don't blame you a bit, Esmeralda," sa
Clayton, "and you certainly did hit it off rig
when you called them 'lonesome' noises. I nev
have been able to find the right word for the
but that's it, don't you know, lonesome noises.""You and Esmeralda had better go and live o
the cruiser," said Jane, in fine scorn. "Wh
would you think if you HAD to live all of yo
life in that jungle as our forest man has done?"
"I'm afraid I'd be a blooming bounder as
wild man," laughed Clayton, ruefully. "Tho
noises at night make the hair on my head bristl
I suppose that I should be ashamed to admit
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but it's the truth."
"I don't know about that," said Lieutena
Charpentier. "I never thought much about fe
and that sort of thing-never tried to determinwhether I was a coward or brave man; but th
other night as we lay in the jungle there aft
poor D'Arnot was taken, and those jungle nois
rose and fell around us I began to think that I wa coward indeed. It was not the roaring an
growling of the big beasts that affected me
much as it was the stealthy noises-the ones th
you heard suddenly close by and then listene
vainly for a repetition of-the unaccountabsounds as of a great body moving almo
noiselessly, and the knowledge that you didn
KNOW how close it was, or whether it we
creeping closer after you ceased to hear it? It w
those noises-and the eyes.
"MON DIEU! I shall see them in the da
forever-the eyes that you see, and those that yo
don't see, but feel-ah, they are the worst."
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All were silent for a moment, and then Ja
spoke.
"And he is out there," she said, in an aw
hushed whisper. "Those eyes will be glaring him to-night, and at your comrade Lieutena
D'Arnot. Can you leave them, gentleme
without at least rendering them the passi
succor which remaining here a few days longmight insure them?"
"Tut, tut, child," said Professor Porte
"Captain Dufranne is willing to remain, and f
my part I am perfectly willing, perfectly willin
as I always have been to humor your childiwhims."
"We can utilize the morrow in recovering th
chest, Professor," suggested Mr. Philander.
"Quite so, quite so, Mr. Philander, I ha
almost forgotten the treasure," exclaime
Professor Porter. "Possibly we can borrow som
men from Captain Dufranne to assist us, and on
of the prisoners to point out the location of t
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chest."
"Most assuredly, my dear Professor, we are a
yours to command," said the captain.
And so it was arranged that on the next dLieutenant Charpentier was to take a detail of t
men, and one of the mutineers of the Arrow as
guide, and unearth the treasure; and that th
cruiser would remain for a full week in the littharbor. At the end of that time it was to b
assumed that D'Arnot was truly dead, and th
the forest man would not return while the
remained. Then the two vessels were to lea
with all the party.Professor Porter did not accompany th
treasure-seekers on the following day, but wh
he saw them returning empty-handed towa
noon, he hastened forward to meet them-h
usual preoccupied indifference entirely vanishe
and in its place a nervous and excited manner.
"Where is the treasure?" he cried to Clayto
while yet a hundred feet separated them.
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Clayton shook his head.
"Gone," he said, as he neared the professor.
"Gone! It cannot be. Who could have tak
it?" cried Professor Porter."God only knows, Professor," replied Clayto
"We might have thought the fellow who guide
us was lying about the location, but his surpri
and consternation on finding no chest beneathe body of the murdered Snipes were too real
be feigned. And then our spades showed us th
SOMETHING had been buried beneath t
corpse, for a hole had been there and it had bee
filled with loose earth.""But who could have taken it?" repeat
Professor Porter.
"Suspicion might naturally fall on the men
the cruiser," said Lieutenant Charpentier, "but f
the fact that sub-lieutenant Janviers here assur
me that no men have had shore leave-that non
has been on shore since we anchored here exce
under command of an officer. I do not know th
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you would suspect our men, but I am glad th
there is now no chance for suspicion to fall o
them," he concluded.
"It would never have occurred to me suspect the men to whom we owe so much
replied Professor Porter, graciously. "I would
soon suspect my dear Clayton here, or M
Philander."The Frenchmen smiled, both officers an
sailors. It was plain to see that a burden had bee
lifted from their minds.
"The treasure has been gone for some time
continued Clayton. "In fact the body fell apart we lifted it, which indicates that whoev
removed the treasure did so while the corpse w
still fresh, for it was intact when we fir
uncovered it."
"There must have been several in the party
said Jane, who had joined them. "You rememb
that it took four men to carry it."
"By jove!" cried Clayton. "That's right. It mu
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have been done by a party of blacks. Probab
one of them saw the men bury the chest and the
returned immediately after with a party of h
friends, and carried it off.""Speculation is futile," said Professor Port
sadly. "The chest is gone. We shall never see
again, nor the treasure that was in it."
Only Jane knew what the loss meant to hfather, and none there knew what it meant to he
Six days later Captain Dufranne announce
that they would sail early on the morrow.
Jane would have begged for a further repriev
had it not been that she too had begun to believthat her forest lover would return no more.
In spite of herself she began to enterta
doubts and fears. The reasonableness of th
arguments of these disinterested French office
commenced to convince her against her will.
That he was a cannibal she would not believ
but that he was an adopted member of som
savage tribe at length seemed possible to her.
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She would not admit that he could be dead.
was impossible to believe that that perfect bod
so filled with triumphant life, could ever cease
harbor the vital spark-as soon believe thimmortality were dust.
As Jane permitted herself to harbor the
thoughts, others equally unwelcome forc
themselves upon her.If he belonged to some savage tribe he had
savage wife-a dozen of them perhaps-and wil
half-caste children. The girl shuddered, and wh
they told her that the cruiser would sail on th
morrow she was almost glad.It was she, though, who suggested that arm
ammunition, supplies and comforts be le
behind in the cabin, ostensibly for that intangib
personality who had signed himself Tarzan of th
Apes, and for D'Arnot should he still be livin
but really, she hoped, for her forest god-ev
though his feet should prove of clay.
And at the last minute she left a message f
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him, to be transmitted by Tarzan of the Apes.
She was the last to leave the cabin, returnin
on some trivial pretext after the others h
started for the boat.She kneeled down beside the bed in which sh
had spent so many nights, and offered up
prayer for the safety of her primeval man, an
crushing his locket to her lips she murmured:"I love you, and because I love you I believ
in you. But if I did not believe, still should I lov
Had you come back for me, and had there bee
no other way, I would have gone into the jung
with you-forever."
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Chapter XXV The Outpost
of the W orld
With the report of his gun D'Arnot saw th
door fly open and the figure of a man pitc
headlong within onto the cabin floor.The Frenchman in his panic raised his gun
fire again into the prostrate form, but suddenly
the half dusk of the open door he saw that thman was white and in another instant realize
that he had shot his friend and protector, Tarz
of the Apes.
With a cry of anguish D'Arnot sprang to th
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ape-man's side, and kneeling, lifted the latte
head in his arms-calling Tarzan's name aloud.
There was no response, and then D'Arn
placed his ear above the man's heart. To his johe heard its steady beating beneath.
Carefully he lifted Tarzan to the cot, and the
after closing and bolting the door, he lighted on
of the lamps and examined the wound.The bullet had struck a glancing blow upon th
skull. There was an ugly flesh wound, but n
signs of a fracture of the skull.
D'Arnot breathed a sigh of relief, and we
about bathing the blood from Tarzan's face.Soon the cool water revived him, an
presently he opened his eyes to look
questioning surprise at D'Arnot.
The latter had bound the wound with pieces
cloth, and as he saw that Tarzan had regain
consciousness he arose and going to the tab
wrote a message, which he handed to the ap
man, explaining the terrible mistake he had mad
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and how thankful he was that the wound was n
more serious.
Tarzan, after reading the message, sat on t
edge of the couch and laughed."It is nothing," he said in French, and then, h
vocabulary failing him, he wrote:
You should have seen what Bolgani did to m
and Kerchak, and Terkoz, before I killed themthen you would laugh at such a little scratch.
D'Arnot handed Tarzan the two messages th
had been left for him.
Tarzan read the first one through with a loo
of sorrow on his face.The second one he turned over and ove
searching for an opening-he had never seen
sealed envelope before. At length he handed it
D'Arnot.
The Frenchman had been watching him, an
knew that Tarzan was puzzled over the envelop
How strange it seemed that to a full-grown whi
man an envelope was a mystery. D'Arnot open
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it and handed the letter back to Tarzan.
Sitting on a camp stool the ape-man spread th
written sheet before him and read:
TO TARZAN OF THE APES:
Before I leave let me add my thanks to tho
of Mr. Clayton for the kindness you have show
in permitting us the use of your cabin.That you never came to make friends with
has been a great regret to us. We should hav
liked so much to have seen and thanked our hos
There is another I should like to thank als
but he did not come back, though I cannbelieve that he is dead.
I do not know his name. He is the great whi
giant who wore the diamond locket upon h
breast.
If you know him and can speak his languag
carry my thanks to him, and tell him that I wait
seven days for him to return.
Tell him, also, that in my home in America,
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the city of Baltimore, there will always be
welcome for him if he cares to come.
I found a note you wrote me lying among th
leaves beneath a tree near the cabin. I do nknow how you learned to love me, who hav
never spoken to me, and I am very sorry if it
true, for I have already given my heart to anoth
But know that I am always your friend,JANE PORTER.
Tarzan sat with gaze fixed upon the floor f
nearly an hour. It was evident to him from th
notes that they did not know that he and Tarzof the Apes were one and the same.
"I have given my heart to another,"
repeated over and over again to himself.
Then she did not love him! How could sh
have pretended love, and raised him to such
pinnacle of hope only to cast him down to su
utter depths of despair!
Maybe her kisses were only signs
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friendship. How did he know, who knew nothin
of the customs of human beings?
Suddenly he arose, and, bidding D'Arnot goo
night as he had learned to do, threw himself upothe couch of ferns that had been Jane Porter's.
D'Arnot extinguished the lamp, and lay dow
upon the cot.
For a week they did little but rest, D'Arncoaching Tarzan in French.
At the end of that time the two men cou
converse quite easily.
One night, as they were sitting within th
cabin before retiring, Tarzan turned to D'Arnot."Where is America?" he said.
D'Arnot pointed toward the northwest.
"Many thousands of miles across the ocean
he replied. "Why?"
"I am going there."
D'Arnot shook his head.
"It is impossible, my friend," he said.
Tarzan rose, and, going to one of t
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cupboards, returned with a well-thumbe
geography.
Turning to a map of the world, he said:
"I have never quite understood all this; explait to me, please."
When D'Arnot had done so, showing him th
the blue represented all the water on the eart
and the bits of other colors the continents anislands, Tarzan asked him to point out the sp
where they now were.
D'Arnot did so.
"Now point out America," said Tarzan.
And as D'Arnot placed his finger upon NorAmerica, Tarzan smiled and laid his palm upo
the page, spanning the great ocean that l
between the two continents.
"You see it is not so very far," he said; "scar
the width of my hand."
D'Arnot laughed. How could he make the m
understand?
Then he took a pencil and made a tiny poi
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upon the shore of Africa.
"This little mark," he said, "is many tim
larger upon this map than your cabin is upon th
earth. Do you see now how very far it is?"Tarzan thought for a long time.
"Do any white men live in Africa?" he asked
"Yes."
"Where are the nearest?"D'Arnot pointed out a spot on the shore ju
north of them.
"So close?" asked Tarzan, in surprise.
"Yes," said D'Arnot; "but it is not close."
"Have they big boats to cross the ocean?""Yes."
"We shall go there to-morrow," announce
Tarzan.
Again D'Arnot smiled and shook his head.
"It is too far. We should die long before w
reached them."
"Do you wish to stay here then forever
asked Tarzan.
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"No," said D'Arnot.
"Then we shall start to-morrow. I do not like
here longer. I should rather die than rema
here.""Well," answered D'Arnot, with a shrug, "I d
not know, my friend, but that I also would rath
die than remain here. If you go, I shall go wi
you.""It is settled then," said Tarzan. "I shall sta
for America to-morrow."
"How will you get to America witho
money?" asked D'Arnot.
"What is money?" inquired Tarzan.It took a long time to make him understan
even imperfectly.
"How do men get money?" he asked at last.
"They work for it."
"Very well. I will work for it, then."
"No, my friend," returned D'Arnot, "you nee
not worry about money, nor need you work for
I have enough money for two-enough for twent
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Much more than is good for one man and yo
shall have all you need if ever we reac
civilization."
So on the following day they started noralong the shore. Each man carrying a rifle an
ammunition, beside bedding and some food an
cooking utensils.
The latter seemed to Tarzan a most useleencumbrance, so he threw his away.
"But you must learn to eat cooked food, m
friend," remonstrated D'Arnot. "No civilized me
eat raw flesh."
"There will be time enough when I reaccivilization," said Tarzan. "I do not like t
things and they only spoil the taste of goo
meat."
For a month they traveled north. Sometim
finding food in plenty and again going hung
for days.
They saw no signs of natives nor were th
molested by wild beasts.
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Their journey was a miracle of ease.
Tarzan asked questions and learned rapidl
D'Arnot taught him many of the refinements
civilization-even to the use of knife and fork; bsometimes Tarzan would drop them in disgu
and grasp his food in his strong brown hand
tearing it with his molars like a wild beast.
Then D'Arnot would expostulate with himsaying:
"You must not eat like a brute, Tarzan, while
am trying to make a gentleman of you. MO
DIEU! Gentlemen do not thus-it is terrible."
Tarzan would grin sheepishly and pick up hknife and fork again, but at heart he hated them
On the journey he told D'Arnot about the gre
chest he had seen the sailors bury; of how he ha
dug it up and carried it to the gathering place
the apes and buried it there.
"It must be the treasure chest of Profess
Porter," said D'Arnot. "It is too bad, but of cour
you did not know."
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Then Tarzan recalled the letter written by Jan
to her friend-the one he had stolen when th
first came to his cabin, and now he knew wh
was in the chest and what it meant to Jane."To-morrow we shall go back after it,"
announced to D'Arnot.
"Go back?" exclaimed D'Arnot. "But, my de
fellow, we have now been three weeks upon tmarch. It would require three more to return
the treasure, and then, with that enormous weig
which required, you say, four sailors to carry,
would be months before we had again reache
this spot.""It must be done, my friend," insisted Tarza
"You may go on toward civilization, and I w
return for the treasure. I can go very much fast
alone."
"I have a better plan, Tarzan," exclaime
D'Arnot. "We shall go on together to the neare
settlement, and there we will charter a boat an
sail back down the coast for the treasure and
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transport it easily. That will be safer and quick
and also not require us to be separated. What d
you think of that plan?"
"Very well," said Tarzan. "The treasure will there whenever we go for it; and while I cou
fetch it now, and catch up with you in a moon
two, I shall feel safer for you to know that yo
are not alone on the trail. When I see hohelpless you are, D'Arnot, I often wonder ho
the human race has escaped annihilation all the
ages which you tell me about. Why, Sabo
single handed, could exterminate a thousand
you."D'Arnot laughed.
"You will think more highly of your gen
when you have seen its armies and navies,
great cities, and its mighty engineering work
Then you will realize that it is mind, and n
muscle, that makes the human animal great
than the mighty beasts of your jungle.
"Alone and unarmed, a single man is no matc
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for any of the larger beasts; but if ten men we
together, they would combine their wits and the
muscles against their savage enemies, while t
beasts, being unable to reason, would never thinof combining against the men.
Otherwise, Tarzan of the Apes, how lon
would you have lasted in the savage wilderness
"You are right, D'Arnot," replied Tarzan, "fif Kerchak had come to Tublat's aid that night
the Dum-Dum, there would have been an end
me. But Kerchak could never think far enoug
ahead to take advantage of any such opportunit
Even Kala, my mother, could never plan ahead.She simply ate what she needed when sh
needed it, and if the supply was very scarce, eve
though she found plenty for several meals, sh
would never gather any ahead.
"I remember that she used to think it very sil
of me to burden myself with extra food upon th
march, though she was quite glad to eat it wi
me, if the way chanced to be barren
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sustenance."
"Then you knew your mother, Tarzan?" aske
D'Arnot, in surprise.
"Yes. She was a great, fine ape, larger than and weighing twice as much."
"And your father?" asked D'Arnot.
"I did not know him. Kala told me he was
white ape, and hairless like myself. I know nothat he must have been a white man."
D'Arnot looked long and earnestly at h
companion.
"Tarzan," he said at length, "it is impossib
that the ape, Kala, was your mother. If suchthing can be, which I doubt, you would hav
inherited some of the characteristics of the ap
but you have not-you are pure man, and, I shou
say, the offspring of highly bred and intellige
parents. Have you not the slightest clue to yo
past?"
"Not the slightest," replied Tarzan.
"No writings in the cabin that might have to
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something of the lives of its original inmates?"
"I have read everything that was in the cab
with the exception of one book which I kno
now to be written in a language other thEnglish.
Possibly you can read it."
Tarzan fished the little black diary from th
bottom of his quiver, and handed it to hcompanion.
D'Arnot glanced at the title page.
"It is the diary of John Clayton, Lo
Greystoke, an English nobleman, and it is writt
in French," he said.Then he proceeded to read the diary that ha
been written over twenty years before, and whic
recorded the details of the story which w
already know-the story of adventure, hardshi
and sorrow of John Clayton and his wife Alic
from the day they left England until an ho
before he was struck down by Kerchak.
D'Arnot read aloud. At times his voice brok
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and he was forced to stop reading for the pitif
hopelessness that spoke between the lines.
Occasionally he glanced at Tarzan; but t
ape-man sat upon his haunches, like a carvimage, his eyes fixed upon the ground.
Only when the little babe was mentioned d
the tone of the diary alter from the habitual no
of despair which had crept into it by degreafter the first two months upon the shore.
Then the passages were tinged with a subdue
happiness that was even sadder than the rest.
One entry showed an almost hopeful spirit.
To-day our little boy is six months old. He sitting in Alice's lap beside the table where I a
writing-a happy, healthy, perfect child.
Somehow, even against all reason, I seem
see him a grown man, taking his father's place
the world-the second John Clayton-and bringin
added honors to the house of Greystoke.
There-as though to give my prophecy th
weight of his endorsement-he has grabbed m
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pen in his chubby fists and with his inkbegrime
little fingers has placed the seal of his tiny fing
prints upon the page.
And there, on the margin of the page, were tpartially blurred imprints of four wee fingers an
the outer half of the thumb.
When D'Arnot had finished the diary the tw
men sat in silence for some minutes."Well! Tarzan of the Apes, what think you
asked D'Arnot. "Does not this little book clear u
the mystery of your parentage?
"Why man, you are Lord Greystoke."
"The book speaks of but one child," he replie"Its little skeleton lay in the crib, where it die
crying for nourishment, from the first time
entered the cabin until Professor Porter's par
buried it, with its father and mother, beside th
cabin.
"No, that was the babe the book speaks of-an
the mystery of my origin is deeper than befor
for I have thought much of late of the possibili
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of that cabin having been my birthplace. I a
afraid that Kala spoke the truth," he conclude
sadly.
D'Arnot shook his head. He was unconvinceand in his mind had sprung the determination
prove the correctness of his theory, for he h
discovered the key which alone could unlock th
mystery, or consign it forever to the realms of thunfathomable.
A week later the two men came suddenly upo
a clearing in the forest.
In the distance were several buildin
surrounded by a strong palisade.Between them and the enclosure stretched
cultivated field in which a number of negro
were working.
The two halted at the edge of the jungle.
Tarzan fitted his bow with a poisoned arrow
but D'Arnot placed a hand upon his arm.
"What would you do, Tarzan?" he asked.
"They will try to kill us if they see us," repli
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Tarzan. "I prefer to be the killer."
"Maybe they are friends," suggested D'Arnot
"They are black," was Tarzan's only reply.
And again he drew back his shaft."You must not, Tarzan!" cried D'Arno
"White men do not kill wantonly. MON DIEU
but you have much to learn.
"I pity the ruffian who crosses you, my wiman, when I take you to Paris. I will have m
hands full keeping your neck from beneath th
guillotine."
Tarzan lowered his bow and smiled.
"I do not know why I should kill the blacback there in my jungle, yet not kill them her
Suppose Numa, the lion, should spring out upo
us, I should say, then, I presume: Good mornin
Monsieur Numa, how is Madame Numa; eh?"
"Wait until the blacks spring upon you
replied D'Arnot, "then you may kill them. Do n
assume that men are your enemies until th
prove it."
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"Come," said Tarzan, "let us go and prese
ourselves to be killed," and he started straig
across the field, his head high held and th
tropical sun beating upon his smooth, brown skBehind him came D'Arnot, clothed in som
garments which had been discarded at the cab
by Clayton when the officers of the Fren
cruiser had fitted him out in more presentabfashion.
Presently one of the blacks looked up, an
beholding Tarzan, turned, shrieking, toward th
palisade.
In an instant the air was filled with cries terror from the fleeing gardeners, but before an
had reached the palisade a white man emerge
from the enclosure, rifle in hand, to discover th
cause of the commotion.
What he saw brought his rifle to his shoulde
and Tarzan of the Apes would have felt cold lea
once again had not D'Arnot cried loudly to th
man with the leveled gun:
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"Do not fire! We are friends!"
"Halt, then!" was the reply.
"Stop, Tarzan!" cried D'Arnot. "He thinks w
are enemies."Tarzan dropped into a walk, and together h
and D'Arnot advanced toward the white man b
the gate.
The latter eyed them in puzzled bewildermen"What manner of men are you?" he asked,
French.
"White men," replied D'Arnot. "We have be
lost in the jungle for a long time."
The man had lowered his rifle and noadvanced with outstretched hand.
"I am Father Constantine of the Fren
Mission here," he said, "and I am glad
welcome you."
"This is Monsieur Tarzan, Fath
Constantine," replied D'Arnot, indicating th
ape-man; and as the priest extended his hand
Tarzan, D'Arnot added: "and I am Paul D'Arno
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of the French Navy."
Father Constantine took the hand whi
Tarzan extended in imitation of the priest's a
while the latter took in the superb physique anhandsome face in one quick, keen glance.
And thus came Tarzan of the Apes to the fir
outpost of civilization.
For a week they remained there, and the apman, keenly observant, learned much of the wa
of men; meanwhile black women sewed whi
duck garments for himself and D'Arnot so th
they might continue their journey proper
clothed.
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Chapter XXVI The H eight of
C ivilization
Another month brought them to a little grou
of buildings at the mouth of a wide river, an
there Tarzan saw many boats, and was filled withe timidity of the wild thing by the sight
many men.
Gradually he became accustomed to thstrange noises and the odd ways of civilizatio
so that presently none might know that two sho
months before, this handsome Frenchman
immaculate white ducks who laughed an
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chatted with the gayest of them, had be
swinging naked through primeval forests
pounce upon some unwary victim, which, raw
was to fill his savage belly.The knife and fork, so contemptuously flun
aside a month before, Tarzan now manipulat
as exquisitely as did the polished D'Arnot.
So apt a pupil had he been that the younFrenchman had labored assiduously to make
Tarzan of the Apes a polished gentleman in
far as nicety of manners and speech we
concerned.
"God made you a gentleman at heart, mfriend," D'Arnot had said; "but we want H
works to show upon the exterior also."
As soon as they had reached the little po
D'Arnot had cabled his government of his safet
and requested a three-months' leave, which h
been granted.
He had also cabled his bankers for funds, an
the enforced wait of a month, under which bo
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chafed, was due to their inability to charter
vessel for the return to Tarzan's jungle after th
treasure.
During their stay at the coast town "MonsieTarzan" became the wonder of both whites an
blacks because of several occurrences which
Tarzan seemed the merest of nothings.
Once a huge black, crazed by drink, had ruamuck and terrorized the town, until his evil st
had led him to where the black-haired Frenc
giant lolled upon the veranda of the hotel.
Mounting the broad steps, with brandishe
knife, the Negro made straight for a party of fomen sitting at a table sipping the inevitab
absinthe.
Shouting in alarm, the four took to their heel
and then the black spied Tarzan.
With a roar he charged the ape-man, whi
half a hundred heads peered from shelterin
windows and doorways to witness the butcherin
of the poor Frenchman by the giant black.
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Tarzan met the rush with the fighting smi
that the joy of battle always brought to his lips.
As the Negro closed upon him, steel muscl
gripped the black wrist of the uplifted knife-hanand a single swift wrench left the hand danglin
below a broken bone.
With the pain and surprise, the madness le
the black man, and as Tarzan dropped back inhis chair the fellow turned, crying with agon
and dashed wildly toward the native village.
On another occasion as Tarzan and D'Arn
sat at dinner with a number of other whites, th
talk fell upon lions and lion hunting.Opinion was divided as to the bravery of th
king of beasts-some maintaining that he was
arrant coward, but all agreeing that it was with
feeling of greater security that they gripped the
express rifles when the monarch of the jung
roared about a camp at night.
D'Arnot and Tarzan had agreed that his past b
kept secret, and so none other than the Fren
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officer knew of the ape-man's familiarity wi
the beasts of the jungle.
"Monsieur Tarzan has not expressed himself
said one of the party. "A man of his prowess whhas spent some time in Africa, as I understan
Monsieur Tarzan has, must have had experienc
with lions-yes?"
"Some," replied Tarzan, dryly. "Enough know that each of you are right in your judgme
of the characteristics of the lions-you have me
But one might as well judge all blacks by th
fellow who ran amuck last week, or decide th
all whites are cowards because one has met cowardly white.
"There is as much individuality among th
lower orders, gentlemen, as there is amon
ourselves. Today we may go out and stumb
upon a lion which is over-timid-he runs aw
from us. To-morrow we may meet his uncle
his twin brother, and our friends wonder why w
do not return from the jungle. For myself,
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always assume that a lion is ferocious, and so
am never caught off my guard."
"There would be little pleasure in hunting
retorted the first speaker, "if one is afraid of ththing he hunts."
D'Arnot smiled. Tarzan afraid!
"I do not exactly understand what you me
by fear," said Tarzan."Like lions, fear is a different thing in differe
men, but to me the only pleasure in the hunt
the knowledge that the hunted thing has power
harm me as much as I have to harm him. If
went out with a couple of rifles and a gun beareand twenty or thirty beaters, to hunt a lion,
should not feel that the lion had much chanc
and so the pleasure of the hunt would be lessene
in proportion to the increased safety which
felt."
"Then I am to take it that Monsieur Tarz
would prefer to go naked into the jungle, arme
only with a jackknife, to kill the king of beasts
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laughed the other, good naturedly, but with th
merest touch of sarcasm in his tone.
"And a piece of rope," added Tarzan.
Just then the deep roar of a lion sounded frothe distant jungle, as though to challeng
whoever dared enter the lists with him.
"There is your opportunity, Monsieur Tarzan
bantered the Frenchman."I am not hungry," said Tarzan simply.
The men laughed, all but D'Arnot. He alon
knew that a savage beast had spoken its simp
reason through the lips of the ape-man.
"But you are afraid, just as any of us would bto go out there naked, armed only with a kni
and a piece of rope," said the banterer. "Is it n
so?"
"No," replied Tarzan. "Only a fool perform
any act without reason."
"Five thousand francs is a reason," said th
other. "I wager you that amount you cannot brin
back a lion from the jungle under the conditio
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we have named-naked and armed only with
knife and a piece of rope."
Tarzan glanced toward D'Arnot and nodde
his head."Make it ten thousand," said D'Arnot.
"Done," replied the other.
Tarzan arose.
"I shall have to leave my clothes at the edge the settlement, so that if I do not return befo
daylight I shall have something to wear throug
the streets."
"You are not going now," exclaimed t
wagerer-"at night?""Why not?" asked Tarzan. "Numa wal
abroad at night-it will be easier to find him."
"No," said the other, "I do not want your bloo
upon my hands. It will be foolhardy enough
you go forth by day."
"I shall go now," replied Tarzan, and went
his room for his knife and rope.
The men accompanied him to the edge of th
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jungle, where he left his clothes in a sm
storehouse.
But when he would have entered the blackne
of the undergrowth they tried to dissuade himand the wagerer was most insistent of all that h
abandon his foolhardy venture.
"I will accede that you have won," he sai
"and the ten thousand francs are yours if you wbut give up this foolish attempt, which can on
end in your death."
Tarzan laughed, and in another moment th
jungle had swallowed him.
The men stood silent for some moments anthen slowly turned and walked back to the hot
veranda.
Tarzan had no sooner entered the jungle th
he took to the trees, and it was with a feeling
exultant freedom that he swung once mo
through the forest branches.
This was life! Ah, how he loved
Civilization held nothing like this in its narro
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and circumscribed sphere, hemmed in b
restrictions and conventionalities. Even cloth
were a hindrance and a nuisance.
At last he was free. He had not realized whatprisoner he had been.
How easy it would be to circle back to th
coast, and then make toward the south and h
own jungle and cabin.Now he caught the scent of Numa, for he w
traveling up wind.
Presently his quick ears detected the famili
sound of padded feet and the brushing of a hug
fur-clad body through the undergrowth.Tarzan came quietly above the unsuspectin
beast and silently stalked him until he came in
a little patch of moonlight.
Then the quick noose settled and tightene
about the tawny throat, and, as he had done it
hundred times in the past, Tarzan made fast th
end to a strong branch and, while the bea
fought and clawed for freedom, dropped to th
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ground behind him, and leaping upon the gre
back, plunged his long thin blade a dozen tim
into the fierce heart.
Then with his foot upon the carcass of Numhe raised his voice in the awesome victory cry
his savage tribe.
For a moment Tarzan stood irresolute, swaye
by conflicting emotions of loyalty to D'Arnot ana mighty lust for the freedom of his own jungle
At last the vision of a beautiful face, and th
memory of warm lips crushed to his dissolve
the fascinating picture he had been drawing
his old life.The ape-man threw the warm carcass of Num
across his shoulders and took to the trees on
more.
The men upon the veranda had sat for an hou
almost in silence.
They had tried ineffectually to converse o
various subjects, and always the thing uppermo
in the mind of each had caused the conversatio
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to lapse.
"MON DIEU," said the wagerer at length,
can endure it no longer. I am going into t
jungle with my express and bring back that mman."
"I will go with you," said one.
"And I"-"And I"-"And I," chorused the other
As though the suggestion had broken the speof some horrid nightmare they hastened to the
various quarters, and presently were heade
toward the jungle-each one heavily armed.
"God! What was that?" suddenly cried one
the party, an Englishman, as Tarzan's savage ccame faintly to their ears.
"I heard the same thing once before," said
Belgian, "when I was in the gorilla country. M
carriers said it was the cry of a great bull ap
who has made a kill."
D'Arnot remembered Clayton's description
the awful roar with which Tarzan had announce
his kills, and he half smiled in spite of the horr
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which filled him to think that the uncanny soun
could have issued from a human throat-from t
lips of his friend.
As the party stood finally near the edge of tjungle, debating as to the best distribution
their forces, they were startled by a low laug
near them, and turning, beheld advancing towa
them a giant figure bearing a dead lion upon ibroad shoulders.
Even D'Arnot was thunderstruck, for it seem
impossible that the man could have so quick
dispatched a lion with the pitiful weapons he h
taken, or that alone he could have borne the hucarcass through the tangled jungle.
The men crowded about Tarzan with man
questions, but his only answer was a laughin
depreciation of his feat.
To Tarzan it was as though one shou
eulogize a butcher for his heroism in killing
cow, for Tarzan had killed so often for food an
for self-preservation that the act seemed anythin
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but remarkable to him. But he was indeed a he
in the eyes of these men-men accustomed
hunting big game.
Incidentally, he had won ten thousand francfor D'Arnot insisted that he keep it all.
This was a very important item to Tarzan, wh
was just commencing to realize the power whic
lay beyond the little pieces of metal and papwhich always changed hands when hum
beings rode, or ate, or slept, or cloth
themselves, or drank, or worked, or played,
sheltered themselves from the rain or cold or su
It had become evident to Tarzan that withomoney one must die.
D'Arnot had told him not to worry, since h
had more than enough for both, but the ape-m
was learning many things and one of them w
that people looked down upon one who accept
money from another without giving something
equal value in exchange.
Shortly after the episode of the lion hun
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D'Arnot succeeded in chartering an ancient tu
for the coastwise trip to Tarzan's land-locke
harbor.
It was a happy morning for them both whthe little vessel weighed anchor and made for th
open sea.
The trip to the beach was uneventful, and th
morning after they dropped anchor before thcabin, Tarzan, garbed once more in his jung
regalia and carrying a spade, set out alone for th
amphitheater of the apes where lay the treasure
Late the next day he returned, bearing th
great chest upon his shoulder, and at sunrise thlittle vessel worked through the harbor's mou
and took up her northward journey.
Three weeks later Tarzan and D'Arnot we
passengers on board a French steamer bound f
Lyons, and after a few days in that city D'Arn
took Tarzan to Paris.
The ape-man was anxious to proceed
America, but D'Arnot insisted that he mu
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accompany him to Paris first, nor would h
divulge the nature of the urgent necessity upo
which he based his demand.
One of the first things which D'Arnaccomplished after their arrival was to arrange
visit a high official of the police department,
old friend; and to take Tarzan with him.
Adroitly D'Arnot led the conversation fropoint to point until the policeman had explaine
to the interested Tarzan many of the methods
vogue for apprehending and identifyin
criminals.
Not the least interesting to Tarzan was the paplayed by finger prints in this fascinating scien
"But of what value are these imprints," aske
Tarzan, "when, after a few years the lines upo
the fingers are entirely changed by the wearin
out of the old tissue and the growth of new?"
"The lines never change," replied the officia
"From infancy to senility the fingerprints of
individual change only in size, except as injuri
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alter the loops and whorls. But if imprints hav
been taken of the thumb and four fingers of bo
hands one must needs lose all entirely to escap
identification.""It is marvelous," exclaimed D'Arnot.
wonder what the lines upon my own fingers m
resemble."
"We can soon see," replied the police officeand ringing a bell he summoned an assistant
whom he issued a few directions.
The man left the room, but presently returne
with a little hardwood box which he placed o
his superior's desk."Now," said the officer, "you shall have yo
fingerprints in a second."
He drew from the little case a square of pla
glass, a little tube of thick ink, a rubber rolle
and a few snowy white cards.
Squeezing a drop of ink onto the glass, h
spread it back and forth with the rubber roll
until the entire surface of the glass was covere
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to his satisfaction with a very thin and unifor
layer of ink.
"Place the four fingers of your right hand upo
the glass, thus," he said to D'Arnot. "Now tthumb. That is right. Now place them in just th
same position upon this card, here, no-a little
the right.
We must leave room for the thumb and thfingers of the left hand.
There, that's it. Now the same with the left."
"Come, Tarzan," cried D'Arnot, "let's see wh
your whorls look like."
Tarzan complied readily, asking manquestions of the officer during the operation.
"Do fingerprints show racial characteristics
he asked. "Could you determine, for exampl
solely from fingerprints whether the subject w
Negro or Caucasian?"
"I think not," replied the officer.
"Could the finger prints of an ape be detect
from those of a man?"
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"Probably, because the ape's would be f
simpler than those of the higher organism."
"But a cross between an ape and a man mig
show the characteristics of either progenitorcontinued Tarzan.
"Yes, I should think likely," responded th
official; "but the science has not progress
sufficiently to render it exact enough in sucmatters. I should hate to trust its findings furth
than to differentiate between individuals. There
is absolute. No two people born into the wor
probably have ever had identical lines upon a
their digits. It is very doubtful if any singfingerprint will ever be exactly duplicated by an
finger other than the one which originally ma
it."
"Does the comparison require much time
labor?" asked D'Arnot.
"Ordinarily but a few moments, if th
impressions are distinct."
D'Arnot drew a little black book from h
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pocket and commenced turning the pages.
Tarzan looked at the book in surprise. Ho
did D'Arnot come to have his book?
Presently D'Arnot stopped at a page on whicwere five tiny little smudges.
He handed the open book to the policeman.
"Are these imprints similar to mine
Monsieur Tarzan's or can you say that they aidentical with either?" The officer drew
powerful glass from his desk and examined a
three specimens carefully, making notatio
meanwhile upon a pad of paper.
Tarzan realized now what was the meaning their visit to the police officer.
The answer to his life's riddle lay in these tin
marks.
With tense nerves he sat leaning forward in h
chair, but suddenly he relaxed and dropped bac
smiling.
D'Arnot looked at him in surprise.
"You forget that for twenty years the dea
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body of the child who made those fingerprin
lay in the cabin of his father, and that all my li
I have seen it lying there," said Tarzan bitterly.
The policeman looked up in astonishment."Go ahead, captain, with your examination
said D'Arnot, "we will tell you the story late
provided Monsieur Tarzan is agreeable."
Tarzan nodded his head."But you are mad, my dear D'Arnot,"
insisted. "Those little fingers are buried on th
west coast of Africa."
"I do not know as to that, Tarzan," replie
D'Arnot. "It is possible, but if you are not the soof John Clayton then how in heaven's name d
you come into that God forsaken jungle where n
white man other than John Clayton had ever s
foot?"
"You forget-Kala," said Tarzan.
"I do not even consider her," replied D'Arnot
The friends had walked to the broad windo
overlooking the boulevard as they talked. F
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some time they stood there gazing out upon t
busy throng beneath, each wrapped in his ow
thoughts.
"It takes some time to compare finger printsthought D'Arnot, turning to look at the poli
officer.
To his astonishment he saw the offici
leaning back in his chair hastily scanning thcontents of the little black diary.
D'Arnot coughed. The policeman looked u
and, catching his eye, raised his finger
admonish silence. D'Arnot turned back to t
window, and presently the police officer spoke."Gentlemen," he said.
Both turned toward him.
"There is evidently a great deal at stake whic
must hinge to a greater or lesser extent upon th
absolute correctness of this comparison.
therefore ask that you leave the entire matter
my hands until Monsieur Desquerc, our expe
returns. It will be but a matter of a few days."
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"I had hoped to know at once," said D'Arno
"Monsieur Tarzan sails for America tomorrow.
"I will promise that you can cable him a repo
within two weeks," replied the officer; "but whit will be I dare not say. There are resemblance
yet-well, we had better leave it for Monsie
Desquerc to solve."
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Chapter XXVII The G iant A gain
A taxicab drew up before an oldfashione
residence upon the outskirts of Baltimore.
A man of about forty, well built and wi
strong, regular features, stepped out, and payinthe chauffeur dismissed him.
A moment later the passenger was entering th
library of the old home.
"Ah, Mr. Canler!" exclaimed an old ma
rising to greet him."Good evening, my dear Professor," cried th
man, extending a cordial hand.
"Who admitted you?" asked the professor.
"Esmeralda "
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"Then she will acquaint Jane with the fact th
you are here," said the old man.
"No, Professor," replied Canler, "for I cam
primarily to see you.""Ah, I am honored," said Professor Porter.
"Professor," continued Robert Canler, wi
great deliberation, as though carefully weighin
his words, "I have come this evening to spewith you about Jane."
"You know my aspirations, and you have bee
generous enough to approve my suit."
Professor Archimedes Q. Porter fidgeted in h
armchair. The subject always made hiuncomfortable. He could not understand wh
Canler was a splendid match.
"But Jane," continued Canler, "I cann
understand her. She puts me off first on on
ground and then another. I have always th
feeling that she breathes a sigh of relief eve
time I bid her good-by."
"Tut, tut," said Professor Porter. "Tut, tut, M
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Canler. Jane is a most obedient daughter. Sh
will do precisely as I tell her."
"Then I can still count on your support
asked Canler, a tone of relief marking his voice"Certainly, sir; certainly, sir," exclaime
Professor Porter. "How could you doubt it?"
"There is young Clayton, you know
suggested Canler. "He has been hanging abofor months. I don't know that Jane cares for him
but beside his title they say he has inherited
very considerable estate from his father, and
might not be strange,-if he finally won he
unless-" and Canler paused."Tut-tut, Mr. Canler; unless-what?"
"Unless, you see fit to request that Jane and
be married at once," said Canler, slowly an
distinctly.
"I have already suggested to Jane that it wou
be desirable," said Professor Porter sadly, "f
we can no longer afford to keep up this hous
and live as her associations demand."
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"What was her reply?" asked Canler.
"She said she was not ready to marry anyo
yet," replied Professor Porter, "and that we cou
go and live upon the farm in northern Wisconswhich her mother left her.
"It is a little more than self-supporting. Th
tenants have always made a living from it, an
been able to send Jane a trifle beside, each yeaShe is planning on our going up there the first
the week.
Philander and Mr. Clayton have already gon
to get things in readiness for us."
"Clayton has gone there?" exclaimed Canlevisibly chagrined. "Why was I not told? I wou
gladly have gone and seen that every comfo
was provided."
"Jane feels that we are already too much
your debt, Mr. Canler," said Professor Porter.
Canler was about to reply, when the sound
footsteps came from the hall without, and Jan
entered the room.
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"Oh, I beg your pardon!" she exclaime
pausing on the threshold. "I thought you we
alone, papa."
"It is only I, Jane," said Canler, who had rise"won't you come in and join the family group
We were just speaking of you."
"Thank you," said Jane, entering and takin
the chair Canler placed for her. "I only wanted tell papa that Tobey is coming down from t
college tomorrow to pack his books. I want yo
to be sure, papa, to indicate all that you can d
without until fall. Please don't carry this enti
library to Wisconsin, as you would have carrieit to Africa, if I had not put my foot down."
"Was Tobey here?" asked Professor Porter.
"Yes, I just left him. He and Esmeralda a
exchanging religious experiences on the bac
porch now."
"Tut, tut, I must see him at once!" cried th
professor. "Excuse me just a moment, children
and the old man hastened from the room.
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As soon as he was out of earshot Canler turn
to Jane.
"See here, Jane," he said bluntly. "How long
this thing going on like this? You haven't refusto marry me, but you haven't promised either
want to get the license tomorrow, so that we c
be married quietly before you leave f
Wisconsin. I don't care for any fuss or featherand I'm sure you don't either."
The girl turned cold, but she held her hea
bravely.
"Your father wishes it, you know," add
Canler."Yes, I know."
She spoke scarcely above a whisper.
"Do you realize that you are buying me, M
Canler?" she said finally, and in a cold, lev
voice. "Buying me for a few paltry dollars? O
course you do, Robert Canler, and the hope
just such a contingency was in your mind wh
you loaned papa the money for that hair-braine
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escapade, which but for a most mysterio
circumstance would have been surprising
successful.
"But you, Mr. Canler, would have been thmost surprised. You had no idea that the ventu
would succeed. You are too good a businessm
for that. And you are too good a businessman
loan money for buried treasure seeking, or loan money without security-unless you h
some special object in view.
"You knew that without security you had
greater hold on the honor of the Porters than wi
it. You knew the one best way to force me marry you, without seeming to force me.
"You have never mentioned the loan. In an
other man I should have thought that th
prompting of a magnanimous and nob
character. But you are deep, Mr. Robert Canler
know you better than you think I know you.
"I shall certainly marry you if there is no oth
way, but let us understand each other once an
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for all."
While she spoke Robert Canler had alternate
flushed and paled, and when she ceased speakin
he arose, and with a cynical smile upon hstrong face, said:
"You surprise me, Jane. I thought you ha
more self-control-more pride. Of course you a
right. I am buying you, and I knew that you kneit, but I thought you would prefer to pretend th
it was otherwise. I should have thought your se
respect and your Porter pride would have shrun
from admitting, even to yourself, that you were
bought woman. But have it your own way, degirl," he added lightly. "I am going to have yo
and that is all that interests me."
Without a word the girl turned and left t
room.
Jane was not married before she left with h
father and Esmeralda for her little Wiscons
farm, and as she coldly bid Robert Canl
goodby as her train pulled out, he called to h
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that he would join them in a week or two.
At their destination they were met by Clayto
and Mr. Philander in a huge touring c
belonging to the former, and quickly whirleaway through the dense northern woods towa
the little farm which the girl had not visite
before since childhood.
The farmhouse, which stood on a littelevation some hundred yards from the tena
house, had undergone a complete transformatio
during the three weeks that Clayton and M
Philander had been there.
The former had imported a small army carpenters and plasterers, plumbers and painte
from a distant city, and what had been but
dilapidated shell when they reached it was now
cosy little two-story house filled with eve
modern convenience procurable in so short
time.
"Why, Mr. Clayton, what have you done
cried Jane Porter, her heart sinking within her
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she realized the probable size of the expenditu
that had been made.
"S-sh," cautioned Clayton. "Don't let yo
father guess. If you don't tell him he will nevnotice, and I simply couldn't think of him livin
in the terrible squalor and sordidness which M
Philander and I found. It was so little when
would like to do so much, Jane. For his sakplease, never mention it."
"But you know that we can't repay you," crie
the girl. "Why do you want to put me under suc
terrible obligations?"
"Don't, Jane," said Clayton sadly. "If it hbeen just you, believe me, I wouldn't have do
it, for I knew from the start that it would on
hurt me in your eyes, but I couldn't think of th
dear old man living in the hole we found her
Won't you please believe that I did it just for hi
and give me that little crumb of pleasure
least?"
"I do believe you, Mr. Clayton," said the gi
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"because I know you are big enough an
generous enough to have done it just for him-an
oh Cecil, I wish I might repay you as yo
deserve-as you would wish.""Why can't you, Jane?"
"Because I love another."
"Canler?"
"No.""But you are going to marry him. He told m
as much before I left Baltimore."
The girl winced.
"I do not love him," she said, almost proudly
"Is it because of the money, Jane?"She nodded.
"Then am I so much less desirable than Canl
I have money enough, and far more, for eve
need," he said bitterly.
"I do not love you, Cecil," she said, "but
respect you. If I must disgrace myself by such
bargain with any man, I prefer that it be one
already despise. I should loathe the man to who
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I sold myself without love, whomsoever h
might be. You will be happier," she conclude
"alone-with my respect and friendship, than wi
me and my contempt."He did not press the matter further, but if ev
a man had murder in his heart it was Willia
Cecil Clayton, Lord Greystoke, when, a we
later, Robert Canler drew up before tfarmhouse in his purring six cylinder.
A week passed; a tense, uneventful, b
uncomfortable week for all the inmates of th
little Wisconsin farmhouse.
Canler was insistent that Jane marry him once.
At length she gave in from sheer loathing
the continued and hateful importuning.
It was agreed that on the morrow Canler w
to drive to town and bring back the license and
minister.
Clayton had wanted to leave as soon as th
plan was announced, but the girl's tired, hopele
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look kept him. He could not desert her.
Something might happen yet, he tried
console himself by thinking.
And in his heart, he knew that it would requibut a tiny spark to turn his hatred for Canler in
the blood lust of the killer.
Early the next morning Canler set out for tow
In the east smoke could be seen lying low ovthe forest, for a fire had been raging for a we
not far from them, but the wind still lay in t
west and no danger threatened them.
About noon Jane started off for a walk. S
would not let Clayton accompany her. Shwanted to be alone, she said, and he respect
her wishes.
In the house Professor Porter and M
Philander were immersed in an absorbin
discussion of some weighty scientific problem
Esmeralda dozed in the kitchen, and Clayto
heavy-eyed after a sleepless night, threw himse
down upon the couch in the living room an
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soon dropped into a fitful slumber.
To the east the black smoke clouds rose high
into the heavens, suddenly they eddied, and the
commenced to drift rapidly toward the west.On and on they came. The inmates of th
tenant house were gone, for it was market da
and none was there to see the rapid approach
the fiery demon.Soon the flames had spanned the road to th
south and cut off Canler's return. A litt
fluctuation of the wind now carried the path
the forest fire to the north, then blew back an
the flames nearly stood still as though held leash by some master hand.
Suddenly, out of the northeast, a great blac
car came careening down the road.
With a jolt it stopped before the cottage, and
black-haired giant leaped out to run up onto t
porch. Without a pause he rushed into the hous
On the couch lay Clayton. The man started
surprise, but with a bound was at the side of th
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sleeping man.
Shaking him roughly by the shoulder, he crie
"My God, Clayton, are you all mad her
Don't you know you are nearly surrounded bfire? Where is Miss Porter?"
Clayton sprang to his feet. He did n
recognize the man, but he understood the wor
and was upon the veranda in a bound."Scott!" he cried, and then, dashing back in
the house, "Jane! Jane! where are you?"
In an instant Esmeralda, Professor Porter an
Mr. Philander had joined the two men.
"Where is Miss Jane?" cried Clayton, seizinEsmeralda by the shoulders and shaking h
roughly.
"Oh, Gaberelle, Mister Clayton, she done go
for a walk."
"Hasn't she come back yet?" and, witho
waiting for a reply, Clayton dashed out into th
yard, followed by the others. "Which way d
she go?" cried the black-haired giant
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Esmeralda.
"Down that road," cried the frightened woma
pointing toward the south where a mighty wall
roaring flames shut out the view."Put these people in the other car," shouted t
stranger to Clayton.
"I saw one as I drove up-and get them out
here by the north road."Leave my car here. If I find Miss Porter w
shall need it. If I don't, no one will need it. Do
I say," as Clayton hesitated, and then they sa
the lithe figure bound away cross the clearin
toward the northwest where the forest still stoountouched by flame.
In each rose the unaccountable feeling that
great responsibility had been raised from the
shoulders; a kind of implicit confidence in t
power of the stranger to save Jane if she could b
saved.
"Who was that?" asked Professor Porter.
"I do not know," replied Clayton. "He calle
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me by name and he knew Jane, for he asked f
her. And he called Esmeralda by name."
"There was something most startling
familiar about him," exclaimed Mr. Philande"And yet, bless me, I know I never saw hi
before."
"Tut, tut!" cried Professor Porter. "Mo
remarkable! Who could it have been, and why dI feel that Jane is safe, now that he has set out
search of her?"
"I can't tell you, Professor," said Clayto
soberly, "but I know I have the same uncann
feeling.""But come," he cried, "we must get out of he
ourselves, or we shall be shut off," and the par
hastened toward Clayton's car.
When Jane turned to retrace her ste
homeward, she was alarmed to note how near t
smoke of the forest fire seemed, and as sh
hastened onward her alarm became almost
panic when she perceived that the rushing flam
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were rapidly forcing their way between herse
and the cottage.
At length she was compelled to turn into th
dense thicket and attempt to force her way to thwest in an effort to circle around the flames an
reach the house.
In a short time the futility of her attem
became apparent and then her one hope lay retracing her steps to the road and flying for h
life to the south toward the town.
The twenty minutes that it took her to rega
the road was all that had been needed to cut o
her retreat as effectually as her advance had beecut off before.
A short run down the road brought her to
horrified stand, for there before her was anoth
wall of flame. An arm of the main conflagratio
had shot out a half mile south of its parent
embrace this tiny strip of road in its implacab
clutches.
Jane knew that it was useless again to attem
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to force her way through the undergrowth.
She had tried it once, and failed. Now sh
realized that it would be but a matter of minut
ere the whole space between the north and tsouth would be a seething mass of billowin
flames.
Calmly the girl kneeled down in the dust
the roadway and prayed for strength to meet hfate bravely, and for the delivery of her fath
and her friends from death.
Suddenly she heard her name being calle
aloud through the forest:
"Jane! Jane Porter!" It rang strong and cleabut in a strange voice.
"Here!" she called in reply. "Here! In th
roadway!"
Then through the branches of the trees she sa
a figure swinging with the speed of a squirrel.
A veering of the wind blew a cloud of smok
about them and she could no longer see the m
who was speeding toward her, but suddenly s
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felt a great arm about her. Then she was lifted u
and she felt the rushing of the wind and th
occasional brush of a branch as she was bor
along.She opened her eyes.
Far below her lay the undergrowth and th
hard earth.
About her was the waving foliage of the foreFrom tree to tree swung the giant figure whic
bore her, and it seemed to Jane that she w
living over in a dream the experience that h
been hers in that far African jungle.
Oh, if it were but the same man who had borher so swiftly through the tangled verdure on th
other day! but that was impossible! Yet who el
in all the world was there with the strength an
agility to do what this man was now doing?
She stole a sudden glance at the face close
hers, and then she gave a little frightened gasp.
was he!
"My forest man!" she murmured, "No, I mu
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be delerious!"
"Yes, your man, Jane Porter. Your savag
primeval man come out of the jungle to claim h
mate-the woman who ran away from him," hadded almost fiercely.
"I did not run away," she whispered. "I wou
only consent to leave when they had waited
week for you to return."They had come to a point beyond the fire now
and he had turned back to the clearing.
Side by side they were walking toward t
cottage. The wind had changed once more an
the fire was burning back upon itself-anothhour like that and it would be burned out.
"Why did you not return?" she asked.
"I was nursing D'Arnot. He was bad
wounded."
"Ah, I knew it!" she exclaimed.
"They said you had gone to join the black
that they were your people."
He laughed.
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"But you did not believe them, Jane?"
"No;-what shall I call you?" she asked. "Wh
is your name?"
"I was Tarzan of the Apes when you firknew me," he said.
"Tarzan of the Apes!" she cried-"and that w
your note I answered when I left?"
"Yes, whose did you think it was?""I did not know; only that it could not be you
for Tarzan of the Apes had written in Englis
and you could not understand a word of an
language."
Again he laughed."It is a long story, but it was I who wrote wh
I could not speak-and now D'Arnot has mad
matters worse by teaching me to speak Frenc
instead of English.
"Come," he added, "jump into my car, w
must overtake your father, they are only a litt
way ahead."
As they drove along, he said:
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"Then when you said in your note to Tarzan
the Apes that you loved another-you might hav
meant me?"
"I might have," she answered, simply."But in Baltimore-Oh, how I have searched f
you-they told me you would possibly be marrie
by now. That a man named Canler had come u
here to wed you. Is that true?""Yes."
"Do you love him?"
"No."
"Do you love me?"
She buried her face in her hands."I am promised to another. I cannot answ
you, Tarzan of the Apes," she cried.
"You have answered. Now, tell me why yo
would marry one you do not love."
"My father owes him money."
Suddenly there came back to Tarzan t
memory of the letter he had read-and the nam
Robert Canler and the hinted trouble which h
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had been unable to understand then.
He smiled.
"If your father had not lost the treasure yo
would not feel forced to keep your promise this man Canler?"
"I could ask him to release me."
"And if he refused?"
"I have given my promise."He was silent for a moment. The car w
plunging along the uneven road at a reckle
pace, for the fire showed threateningly at the
right, and another change of the wind mig
sweep it on with raging fury across this oavenue of escape.
Finally they passed the danger point, an
Tarzan reduced their speed.
"Suppose I should ask him?" ventured Tarzan
"He would scarcely accede to the demand of
stranger," said the girl.
"Especially one who wanted me himself."
"Terkoz did," said Tarzan, grimly.
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Jane shuddered and looked fearfully up at t
giant figure beside her, for she knew that
meant the great anthropoid he had killed in h
defense."This is not the African jungle," she sai
"You are no longer a savage beast. You are
gentleman, and gentlemen do not kill in co
blood.""I am still a wild beast at heart," he said, in
low voice, as though to himself.
Again they were silent for a time.
"Jane," said the man, at length, "if you we
free, would you marry me?"She did not reply at once, but he wait
patiently.
The girl was trying to collect her thoughts.
What did she know of this strange creature
her side? What did he know of himself? Wh
was he? Who, his parents?
Why, his very name echoed his mysterio
origin and his savage life.
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He had no name. Could she be happy with th
jungle waif? Could she find anything in comm
with a husband whose life had been spent in th
tree tops of an African wilderness, frolicking anfighting with fierce anthropoids; tearing his foo
from the quivering flank of fresh-killed pre
sinking his strong teeth into raw flesh, an
tearing away his portion while his mates growleand fought about him for their share?
Could he ever rise to her social sphere? Cou
she bear to think of sinking to his? Would eith
be happy in such a horrible misalliance?
"You do not answer," he said. "Do you shrinfrom wounding me?"
"I do not know what answer to make," sa
Jane sadly. "I do not know my own mind."
"You do not love me, then?" he asked, in
level tone.
"Do not ask me. You will be happier witho
me. You were never meant for the form
restrictions and conventionalities of societ
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civilization would become irksome to you, and
a little while you would long for the freedom
your old life-a life to which I am as total
unfitted as you to mine.""I think I understand you," he replied quietl
"I shall not urge you, for I would rather see yo
happy than to be happy myself. I see now th
you could not be happy with-an ape."There was just the faintest tinge of bitterne
in his voice.
"Don't," she remonstrated. "Don't say tha
You do not understand."
But before she could go on a sudden turn the road brought them into the midst of a litt
hamlet.
Before them stood Clayton's car surrounded b
the party he had brought from the cottage.
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Chapter XXVIII Conclusion
At the sight of Jane, cries of relief an
delight broke from every lip, and as Tarzan's c
stopped beside the other, Professor Porter caug
his daughter in his arms.For a moment no one noticed Tarzan, sittin
silently in his seat.
Clayton was the first to remember, an
turning, held out his hand.
"How can we ever thank you?" he exclaime"You have saved us all.
You called me by name at the cottage, but I d
not seem to recall yours, though there
something very familiar about you It is
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though I had known you well under ve
different conditions a long time ago."
Tarzan smiled as he took the proffered hand.
"You are quite right, Monsieur Clayton," hsaid, in French. "You will pardon me if I do n
speak to you in English. I am just learning it, an
while I understand it fairly well I speak it ve
poorly.""But who are you?" insisted Clayton, speakin
in French this time himself.
"Tarzan of the Apes."
Clayton started back in surprise.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "It is true."And Professor Porter and Mr. Philand
pressed forward to add their thanks to Clayton
and to voice their surprise and pleasure at seein
their jungle friend so far from his savage home.
The party now entered the modest litt
hostelry, where Clayton soon made arrangemen
for their entertainment.
They were sitting in the little, stuffy parl
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when the distant chugging of an approachin
automobile caught their attention.
Mr. Philander, who was sitting near th
window, looked out as the car drew in sighfinally stopping beside the other automobiles.
"Bless me!" said Mr. Philander, a shade
annoyance in his tone. "It is Mr. Canler. I h
hoped, er-I had thought or-er-how very happy wshould be that he was not caught in the fire," h
ended lamely.
"Tut, tut! Mr. Philander," said Professor Port
"Tut, tut! I have often admonished my pupils
count ten before speaking. Were I you, MPhilander, I should count at least a thousand, an
then maintain a discreet silence."
"Bless me, yes!" acquiesced Mr. Philande
"But who is the clerical appearing gentlem
with him?"
Jane blanched.
Clayton moved uneasily in his chair.
Professor Porter removed his spectacl
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nervously, and breathed upon them, but replace
them on his nose without wiping.
The ubiquitous Esmeralda grunted.
Only Tarzan did not comprehend.Presently Robert Canler burst into the room.
"Thank God!" he cried. "I feared the wor
until I saw your car, Clayton. I was cut off on t
south road and had to go away back to town, anthen strike east to this road. I thought we'd nev
reach the cottage."
No one seemed to enthuse much. Tarzan eye
Robert Canler as Sabor eyes her prey.
Jane glanced at him and coughed nervously."Mr. Canler," she said, "this is Monsie
Tarzan, an old friend."
Canler turned and extended his hand. Tarz
rose and bowed as only D'Arnot could hav
taught a gentleman to do it, but he did not see
to see Canler's hand.
Nor did Canler appear to notice the oversight
"This is the Reverend Mr. Tousley, Jane," sa
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Canler, turning to the clerical party behind him
"Mr. Tousley, Miss Porter."
Mr. Tousley bowed and beamed.
Canler introduced him to the others."We can have the ceremony at once, Jane
said Canler. "Then you and I can catch th
midnight train in town."
Tarzan understood the plan instantly. Hglanced out of half-closed eyes at Jane, but
did not move.
The girl hesitated. The room was tense wi
the silence of taut nerves.
All eyes turned toward Jane, awaiting hreply.
"Can't we wait a few days?" she asked. "I a
all unstrung. I have been through so muc
today."
Canler felt the hostility that emanated fro
each member of the party.
It made him angry.
"We have waited as long as I intend to wait
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he said roughly. "You have promised to mar
me. I shall be played with no longer. I have t
license and here is the preacher. Come M
Tousley; come Jane.There are plenty of witnesses-more th
enough," he added with a disagreeable inflectio
and taking Jane Porter by the arm, he started
lead her toward the waiting minister.But scarcely had he taken a single step ere
heavy hand closed upon his arm with a grip
steel.
Another hand shot to his throat and in
moment he was being shaken high above thfloor, as a cat might shake a mouse.
Jane turned in horrified surprise toward Tarz
And, as she looked into his face, she saw th
crimson band upon his forehead that she ha
seen that other day in far distant Africa, whe
Tarzan of the Apes had closed in mortal comb
with the great anthropoid-Terkoz.
She knew that murder lay in that savage hea
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and with a little cry of horror she sprang forwa
to plead with the ape-man.
But her fears were more for Tarzan than f
Canler. She realized the stern retribution whijustice metes to the murderer.
Before she could reach them, howeve
Clayton had jumped to Tarzan's side an
attempted to drag Canler from his grasp.With a single sweep of one mighty arm t
Englishman was hurled across the room, an
then Jane laid a firm white hand upon Tarzan
wrist, and looked up into his eyes.
"For my sake," she said.The grasp upon Canler's throat relaxed.
Tarzan looked down into the beautiful fa
before him.
"Do you wish this to live?" he asked
surprise.
"I do not wish him to die at your hands, m
friend," she replied. "I do not wish you
become a murderer."
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Tarzan removed his hand from Canler's throa
"Do you release her from her promise?"
asked. "It is the price of your life."
Canler, gasping for breath, nodded."Will you go away and never molest h
further?"
Again the man nodded his head, his fa
distorted by fear of the death that had been close.
Tarzan released him, and Canler staggere
toward the door. In another moment he was gon
and the terror-stricken preacher with him.
Tarzan turned toward Jane."May I speak with you for a moment, alone
he asked.
The girl nodded and started toward the do
leading to the narrow veranda of the little hote
She passed out to await Tarzan and so did n
hear the conversation which followed.
"Wait," cried Professor Porter, as Tarzan w
about to follow.
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The professor had been stricken dumb wi
surprise by the rapid developments of the pa
few minutes.
"Before we go further, sir, I should like explanation of the events which have ju
transpired. By what right, sir, did you interfe
between my daughter and Mr. Canler? I h
promised him her hand, sir, and regardless of opersonal likes or dislikes, sir, that promise mu
be kept."
"I interfered, Professor Porter," replied Tarza
"because your daughter does not love M
Canler-she does not wish to marry him. That enough for me to know."
"You do not know what you have done," sa
Professor Porter. "Now he will doubtless refu
to marry her."
"He most certainly will," said Tarza
emphatically.
"And further," added Tarzan, "you need n
fear that your pride will suffer, Professor Porte
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for you will be able to pay the Canler perso
what you owe him the moment you reach home
"Tut, tut, sir!" exclaimed Professor Porte
"What do you mean, sir?""Your treasure has been found," said Tarzan.
"What-what is that you are saying?" cried t
professor. "You are mad, man. It cannot be."
"It is, though. It was I who stole it, nknowing either its value or to whom it belonge
I saw the sailors bury it, and, ape-like, I had
dig it up and bury it again elsewhere. Whe
D'Arnot told me what it was and what it meant
you I returned to the jungle and recovered it.It had caused so much crime and suffering an
sorrow that D'Arnot thought it best not to attem
to bring the treasure itself on here, as had bee
my intention, so I have brought a letter of cred
instead.
"Here it is, Professor Porter," and Tarzan dre
an envelope from his pocket and handed it to t
astonished professor, "two hundred and forty-on
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thousand dollars. The treasure was mo
carefully appraised by experts, but lest the
should be any question in your mind, D'Arn
himself bought it and is holding it for yoshould you prefer the treasure to the credit."
"To the already great burden of the obligatio
we owe you, sir," said Professor Porter, wi
trembling voice, "is now added this greatest all services. You have given me the means
save my honor."
Clayton, who had left the room a moment aft
Canler, now returned.
"Pardon me," he said. "I think we had betttry to reach town before dark and take the fir
train out of this forest. A native just rode by fro
the north, who reports that the fire is movin
slowly in this direction."
This announcement broke up furth
conversation, and the entire party went out to th
waiting automobiles.
Clayton, with Jane, the professor an
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Esmeralda occupied Clayton's car, while Tarz
took Mr. Philander in with him.
"Bless me!" exclaimed Mr. Philander, as t
car moved off after Clayton. "Who would evhave thought it possible! The last time I saw yo
you were a veritable wild man, skipping abo
among the branches of a tropical African fore
and now you are driving me along a Wisconsroad in a French automobile. Bless me! But it
most remarkable."
"Yes," assented Tarzan, and then, after a pau
"Mr. Philander, do you recall any of the deta
of the finding and burying of three skeletofound in my cabin beside that African jungle?"
"Very distinctly, sir, very distinctly," replie
Mr. Philander.
"Was there anything peculiar about any
those skeletons?"
Mr. Philander eyed Tarzan narrowly.
"Why do you ask?"
"It means a great deal to me to know," replie
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Tarzan. "Your answer may clear up a mystery.
can do no worse, at any rate, than to leave it st
a mystery. I have been entertaining a theo
concerning those skeletons for the past twmonths, and I want you to answer my question
the best of your knowledge-were the thr
skeletons you buried all human skeletons?"
"No," said Mr. Philander, "the smallest onthe one found in the crib, was the skeleton of
anthropoid ape."
"Thank you," said Tarzan.
In the car ahead, Jane was thinking fast an
furiously. She had felt the purpose for whiTarzan had asked a few words with her, and s
knew that she must be prepared to give him a
answer in the very near future.
He was not the sort of person one could put o
and somehow that very thought made her wond
if she did not really fear him.
And could she love where she feared?
She realized the spell that had been upon h
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in the depths of that far-off jungle, but there w
no spell of enchantment now in prosa
Wisconsin.
Nor did the immaculate young Frenchmappeal to the primal woman in her, as had t
stalwart forest god.
Did she love him? She did not know-now.
She glanced at Clayton out of the corner of heye. Was not here a man trained in the sam
school of environment in which she had bee
trained-a man with social position and cultu
such as she had been taught to consider as t
prime essentials to congenial association?Did not her best judgment point to this youn
English nobleman, whose love she knew to be
the sort a civilized woman should crave, as th
logical mate for such as herself?
Could she love Clayton? She could see n
reason why she could not.
Jane was not coldly calculating by nature, b
training, environment and heredity had a
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combined to teach her to reason even in matte
of the heart.
That she had been carried off her feet by th
strength of the young giant when his great armwere about her in the distant African forest, an
again today, in the Wisconsin woods, seemed
her only attributable to a temporary ment
reversion to type on her part-to the psychologicappeal of the primeval man to the primev
woman in her nature.
If he should never touch her again, sh
reasoned, she would never feel attracted towa
him. She had not loved him, then. It had beenothing more than a passing hallucination, supe
induced by excitement and by personal contact.
Excitement would not always mark the
future relations, should she marry him, and th
power of personal contact eventually would b
dulled by familiarity.
Again she glanced at Clayton. He was ve
handsome and every inch a gentleman. Sh
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should be very proud of such a husband.
And then he spoke-a minute sooner or
minute later might have made all the differen
in the world to three lives-but chance stepped and pointed out to Clayton the psychologic
moment.
"You are free now, Jane," he said. "Won't yo
say yes-I will devote my life to making you vehappy."
"Yes," she whispered.
That evening in the little waiting room at t
station Tarzan caught Jane alone for a moment.
"You are free now, Jane," he said, "and I hacome across the ages out of the dim and dista
past from the lair of the primeval man to clai
you-for your sake I have become a civilize
man-for your sake I have crossed oceans an
continents-for your sake I will be whatever yo
will me to be. I can make you happy, Jane, in th
life you know and love best. Will you mar
me?"
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For the first time she realized the depths of th
man's love-all that he had accomplished in
short a time solely for love of her. Turning h
head she buried her face in her arms.What had she done? Because she had be
afraid she might succumb to the pleas of th
giant, she had burned her bridges behind her-
her groundless apprehension that she might maka terrible mistake, she had made a worse one.
And then she told him all-told him the tru
word by word, without attempting to shie
herself or condone her error.
"What can we do?" he asked. "You havadmitted that you love me. You know that I lo
you; but I do not know the ethics of society b
which you are governed. I shall leave th
decision to you, for you know best what will b
for your eventual welfare."
"I cannot tell him, Tarzan," she said. "He to
loves me, and he is a good man. I could nev
face you nor any other honest person if
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repudiated my promise to Mr. Clayton. I sha
have to keep it-and you must help me bear th
burden, though we may not see each other aga
after tonight."The others were entering the room now an
Tarzan turned toward the little window.
But he saw nothing outside-within he saw
patch of greensward surrounded by a mattmass of gorgeous tropical plants and flowers, an
above, the waving foliage of mighty trees, an
over all, the blue of an equatorial sky.
In the center of the greensward a youn
woman sat upon a little mound of earth, anbeside her sat a young giant. They ate pleasa
fruit and looked into each other's eyes and smile
They were very happy, and they were all alone.
His thoughts were broken in upon by th
station agent who entered asking if there was
gentleman by the name of Tarzan in the party.
"I am Monsieur Tarzan," said the ape-man.
"Here is a message for you, forwarded fro
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Edgar Rice Borroughs Tarzan of the Ap
Baltimore; it is a cablegram from Paris."
Tarzan took the envelope and tore it open. T
message was from D'Arnot.
It read: