The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-12-17

Ihe last two days of the journey
round her in such utter exhaustion that
no amount of kicking and abuse could
force her to her poor. bleeding feet
Outraged nature had reached the limit
or endurance. and the girl was physi.
cally p0werless to raise herself even to
! her knees.
As the beasts surrounded her. chat
tering threateningly the while they
goaded her with their cudgels and beat
and kicked her with their fists and
feet, she lay with closed eyes praying
for the merciful death that she knew
alone could give her surcease from suf-
fering But 1t did not come. and pres
emily the fifty frightful men realized
that their victim was no longer able to
walk, and so they picked her up and
carried her the balance Of the journey.
Late one afternoon she saw the ruin
ed walls OF a mighty city looming be-
fore them, but so weak and sick was
she that 1t inspired not the faintest
shadow Of interest. Wherever they
were bearing her there could be but
one end to her captivity among these
fierce half brutes.
At last they passed through two great
walls and came to the ruined city
within. Into a crumbling pile they bore
her. and here she was surrounded by
hundreds more of the same creatures
that had brought her. but among them
were females who looked less horrible.
At sight OF them the first faint hope
that she had entertained came to miti-
gate her misery. But it was short
lived, for the women offered her no
sympathy, though. on the other hand,
neither did they abuse her.
After she had been inspected to the
entire satisfaction Of the inmates of
the building, she was borne TO Il dark
chamber in the vaults beneath and
here upon the bare floor she was left
with a metal bowl of water and anoth-
er Of food.
For a week she saw only some of the
women. whose duty it was to bring her
food and water. Slowly her strength
""' ANl'ihAhS pcph ohN "o''' w IL
fit condition to offer as a sacrifice to
the flaming god. Fortunate indeed it
was that she could not know the fate
for which she was destined.
AS Tarzan of the Apes moved slowly
through the jungle after casting the
spear that saved Clayton and Jane
Porter from the savage fangs Of Numa,
his mind was filed with all the sorrow
that belongs to a freshly opened heart
wound.
He was glad that he had stayed his
hand in time to prevent the consumma-
ton of the thing that in the first mad
wave Of jealous wrath he had contem-
plated. Only the fraction of a second
had stood between Clayton and death
short moment that had elapsed after
he had recognized the girl and her
companion and the relaxing of the
taut muscles that held the poisoned
shaft directed at the Englishman's
heart, Tarzan had been swayed by the
Wv W i'hpbhHNp VI W tNt iltta
He had seen the woman he craved-
his wOman his mate-in the arms OF
another. There had been but one course
open to him, according to the fierce
jungle code that guided him i'm this
other existence, but just before it had
become too late the softer sentiment
Of his inherent chivalry had risen
above the flaming fires Of his passion
and saved him. A thousand times he
gave thanks that they lad triumphed
before his fingers had released that
polished arrow.
AS he contemplated his return to the
Waziri the idea became repugnant. He
did not wish to see a human being
again. At least he would range alone
through the jungle for a time. until the
sharp edge of his sorrow had become
blunted. Like his fellow beasts he
preferred to suffer in silence and alone.
That night he slept again in the am
phitheater Of the apes, and for several
days he hunted from there, returning
at night. On the afternoon Of the third
day he returned early. He had lain
stretched upon the soft grass Of the
circular clearing for but a few mo-
ments when be heard far to the south
a familiar sound. 1t was the passing
OF a band Of great apes through the
jungle. He could not mistake it. Fer
several minutes he lay listening. They
were coming in the direction Of the
amphitheater.
Tarzan arose laZily and stretched
himself. His keen ears followed every
movement Of the advancing tribe.
They were upwind. and presently he
caught their scent. though he had not
needed this added evidence to assure
him that he was right.
As they entered the cleared space
Tarzan Of the Apes melted into the
branches upon the other side Of the
arena. There he waited to inspect the
newcomers. Nor had he long to walt.
Presently a fierce. hairy face appear
ed among the lower branches opposite
him. The cruel. little eyes took In the
clearing at a glance: then there was a
chartered report returned to those BE-