Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1914-1915, 1914-11-05


those strange fits of insane rage which
attack the males of many of the fiercer
animals Of the jungle. Then none was
safe.
On the day that Tarzan established
his right to respect the tribe was gath
cred about a small natural amphithe-
ter which the jungle had left free
from its entangling vines and creepers.
Here the tribe often gathered. In
the center of the amphitheater was
one Of those strange earthen drums
which the a~nthropoids build for the
dumdum, the queer rites the sound Of
which men have heard in the fastness-
es Of the jungle, but which none has
ever witnessed.
On the day that TarZan won his
emancipation from the persecution that
had followed him remorselessly for
twelve of his thirteen years of life the
tribe, now a full 100 strong, trooped
silently through the lower terrace of
the jungle trees and dropped noiseless-
ly upon the floor Of the amphitheater.
The rites Of the dumdum marked
important events in the life Of the
tribe-a victory, the capture of a pris-
oncr, the killing Of some large, fierce
denizen Of the jungle, the death or &C.
cession of a king.
Today it was the killing Of a giant
ape. a member of another tribe, and as
| fhn popr1o ~ L<nr,loly on+orD1 CIV,
arena two mighty bulls might have
been seen bearing the body Of the van
pushed between them. They laid their
burden before the earthen drum and
then sqnatted beside it as guards, while
the other members of the community
curled themselves in grassy hooks to
sleep until the rising moon should give
the signal for the commencement of
the orgy.
\ darkness settled upon the jungle.
the apes commenced to bestir them
selves. and soon they formed a great
circle about the earthen drum.
The females and young squatted in
a thin line at the outer periphery of
the circle, while just in front Of them
ranged the adult males. Before the
drum sat three old females. each arm
ed with a knotted branch fifteen or
eighteen inches in length.
Slowly and softly they began tap
ping upon the resounding surface of
the drum as the first faint rays Of the
ascending moon silvered the treetops.
As the light increased the females
augmented the frequency and force of
their blows until presently a rhyth-
mical din pervaded the jungle for miles
in every direction. Huge brutes stop
ped in their hunting, with uppricked
ears and raised heads. to listen to the
dull booming that bctokened the dun
dunn Of the great apes.
AS the din Of the drum rose to al
most d%eafening volume Kerchak
sprang into the open space between
the squatting males and the drummers.
Standing erect, he threw his head
far back. and, looking full into the eye
of the rising moon. he beat upon his
breast with his great hairy paws and
emitted his fearful roaring shrek.
Observation-Disclosures that terrifying
cry rang out across the teeming soil
tude of that %unspeakably quick. yet
unthinkably dead, world.
Then, crouching. Kerchak skunk
noiselessly around the open circle,
veering far away from the dead body
lying before the altar drum, but as he
passed keeping his little. fierce, wicked
red eyes upon the corpse.
Another male then sprang into the
arena and. repeating the horrid cries
Of his king, followed stealthily in his
wake. Another and another followed
In quick succession until the jungle
re%verberated with the now almost
ceaseless notes of their b%loodthirsty
screams.
1t was the challenge and the hunt.
When all the adult males had Joined
In the thin line of circling dancers the
attack commenced.
kerchak, Selling a huge club from
the pile which lay at hand for the pur.
pose, rushed furiously upon the dead
ape, dealing the corpse a terrific blow,
at the same time emitting the growls
and SnarlS of combat
The din Of the drum was now ii,
creased. as well as the frequency or
the blows, and the warriors. as each
approached the victim of the hunt and
delivered his bludgeon blow, Joined in
the mad whirl of the death dance.
Tarzan was one Of the wild. leaping
horde. His brown. sweat streaked,
muscular body glistening in the moon
light, shone supple and graceful among
the. uncouth. awkward. hairy brutes
about him.
For half an hour the weird dance
went on, until. at a sign from Kerchak,
the noise Of the drums ceased, the fe.
male drummers scampering hurriedly
through the line Of dancers toward the
outer rim Of squatting spectators.
Then, as n man. the males rushed
%headlong upon the thing which their