The evening world., 1913-01-22
CHAPTER XI.
lCoatsusd.
King Of the Apes.

n~lN . large circle squattei the
women. yelling and beating
upon drums. II reminded Tar
san Of the Dum-Dum. and %
~ he know what TO expect. lie
wondered II they would spring upon
their meat while u WAS still alive. The
apes dld not do such things NJ that.
The circle Of warriors about the
crinxing captive drew closer to their
prey. IN savage abandon to the mad
denlnG music Of the drums. Presently
spear reached out and prlcked ths
victim. II wsa the signal for fifty
others.
Eyes, ears. arms and legs were
pierced: every inch OF the poor. writh-
INK body that did not cover u vital
organ became the target Of the cruel
lances
The women and children shrleked
their delight. The warriors licked their
hidcous lips In anticipation Of the feast
10 come. and Wed with one another IN
the savagery and loathsomcness OF the
cruel indignitlcs with which they tor
tured the still conscious prisoner.
Then 10 was that Tarzan OF the apes
saw his chance. All eyes were hxed
upon the thrilling spectacle at the
stake. The Hight OF day had given place
10 the darkness OF u moVnless night.
and only the fires In the Immediate VI
cinity OF the orgy had been kept ai!ght
70 cast restless light upon the scene.
Gently the 1.-the boy dropped to .hs
earth at the end OF the village street
Quickly he gathered up the srrows--sil
Of them this time. for he had brought
u number OF long nbres to bind them
into a bundle.
Without haste he wrapped them -.
curely and then. ere lie turned to leave.
the devil Of cApriciousness entered his
heart. lie looked about for some hint
of a wild prank to play upon these
strange, grotesque creatures. that they
might be- again aware ot his presence
among them,
Dropping his bundle OF arrows at the
foot OF the tree. Taraan crept among
the shadows at the side OF the street
untll he came to the same hut he had
entered on the occasion Of his first
visit.
Inslde all was darkness. Ills crop
ing hands soon found the object for
which he sought. and without further
delay he turned again toward the door.
lie had taken but a step. however. ere
his quick ear caught the sound OF ap-
preaching footsteps. In another In
STAN the ngure OF woman dsrkensd
the entrance Of the hut
Tarzan drew back silently % the far
wall. and his hand sought his knife.
The woman came quickly to the centre
of the hut, and there she paused for
an Instant feeling about wish her
hands for the thing she sought.
Immediately she turned and left the
nut. ana aS she passed through tas
doorway Tarzan saw that she carried
q cooking pot In her hand.
He followed closely after her. ana
as he reconnoitered from the shadow
of the doorway he saw that all the
women OF the village were Fastening
TO and from the various huts with pots
and kettles. These they were nll!nI
with water and placing over . number
OF fires near the stake where the dying
victim now hung inert and bloody.
Choosing moment when none
seemed near. Tarzan hastened to his
bundle OF arrows beneath the great tree
AT the end OF the village street. As on
the former occasion. he overthrew the
cauldron before leiping. sinuous and
oatlike. Snto the lower branches OF tns
forest giant.
Silently he climbed To a great height
until he found point opening upon tnc
scene bereath him.
The women were now preparing the
pr for their cooking pots, while
the men stood about resting after the
fatigue OF the.r mad revel Compare
tive que. relgned In the village.
Tarzsn raised alo't the thing he had
plifered from the hut, and. with aim
made true by years OF fruit and COCO
nut throwing. launched II toward the
group Of savaGss
squarely among them II fell. striking
one of tSe warriors full upon the hooA