Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-25


icing the struggle. They muttered low
s,,tturals of approval as bits OF white
"A. ar hairy blood-stained skin were torn
fren one contestant or the other. But
,hev were silent in amazement and eX-
reciation when they saw the mighty
wh,te ape wriggle upon the back Of their
t,ng. and with steel muscles, tensed be-
reath the armpits Of his antagonist, bear
dawn nightly with his open palms upon
,be hack OF the thick bullneck, so that
,hs king ape could but shrek In agony
snd FOUNDER helplessly about upon the
nick mat of jungle grass.
Az Tarzan had overcome the huge
rerkoz that time years before when he
had been about to set out upon his quest
for human beings of his own kind and
color. SO now he overcome this other
rreat ape with the same wrestling hold
unon which he had stumbled by accident
during that other combat.
The little audience of fierce anthropoids
hard the creaking OF their kings neck
| mngling with his agonized shrieks and
hldeous roaring.
Then there came a sudden crack, like
tha breaking of a stout limb before the
fury OF the wind. The bullet-head
cumpled forward upon its fiaccid neck
against the great hairy chest-the roar
The little pig-eyes of the onlookers
wandered from the still form of their
leader to that Of the white ape that was
rising to its feet beside the vanqushed,
then back to their king as though in
wonder that he did not arise and slay
this presumptuous stranger.
They saw the newcomer place a foot
upon the neck Of the quiet figure at his
feet and, throwing back his head, give
vent 10 the wild, uncanny challenge of
the bul-ape that has made a kill. Then
they knew that their king was dead.
Across the jungle rolled the horrid notes
Of the victory cry. The little monkeys in
the treetops ceased their chatterlng. The
harsh-yoiced, brilliant-plumed birds were
still. From afar came the answering wall
Of leopard and the deep roar of lion.
II was the old Tarzan who turned ques-
tionng eyes upon the little knot of apes
before him 1t was the old Tarzan who
shook his head as though to toss back a
heavy name that had fallen before his
face-an old habit dating from the days
that his great shock of thick, black hair
| had fallen about his shoulders, and often
tumbIed before his eyes when it had
meant life or death to him to have his
| vision unobstructed.
The ape-man knew that he might eX-
tptct an immediate attack on the part of
That particular surviving bull-ape who
flt himself best fitted to contend for the
dingshlp of the tribe. Among his own
apes he knew that it was not unusual
| for an entire stranger TO enter a COM
munity and after having dispatched the
king assume the leadership himself, to-
gether with the fallen monarchs mates
On the other hand, If he made no at
'empt to follow them, they might move
Aowly away from him. later to fight
among themselves for the supremacy.
That he could be king of them, II he so
ehose he was confident; but he was not
sure that he cared TO assume the some
umea irksome duties of that position, for
ne could see no particular advantage to
n gained thereby.
une OF the younger apes, a huge, splen-
adly muscled brute, was edging threat
nhgly closer to the ape-man. Through
ms barred fighting fangs there issued a
low sullen growl.
rarzan watched his every move, stand
ms rigid as a statue. To have fallen
BACK step would have been TO precipi-
.A'e an immediate charge; TO have rushed
iorward to meet the other might have
nag the same result, or 1t might have
put the bellicose one to fiight-it all de-
pended upon the young bulls stock OF
courage.
n stand perfectly still. waiting, was
We middle course. In this event the bull
WOULD, according to custom, approach
qulte close to the object of his attention.
Howling hideously and barring slavering
'snss Slowly he would circle about the
wnef, as though with a chip upon his
spopiaeri and this he did, even as Tarzan
tac forsseen.
i might be a blum royal. or, on the
~nef hand, so unstable is the mind of
ape, passing impulse might hurl
~ naify mass, tearing and rending, upon
Y. man without an instant's warning.
~ The brute circle him Tarzan turned
.~wiy. keeping his eyes ever upon the
VS. OF his antagonist. He hid appraised
Y, young bull as one who had never
tn'e felt equal to the task of overthrow
hls former king. but who one day
'pno have done so. Tarzan saw that the
r't was OF wondrous proportions,
bowed legs.
ne great, hairy arms reached almost
pe ground even when he stood erect,
ms hshting fangs, now quite close
aafzan's face, were exceptionally long
sharp. Like the others Of his tribe,
y ainered In several minor essentials
",,N me apes Of Tarzan's boyhood.
~ hrst the ape-man had experienced
/ nih OF hope at sight OF the shaggy
es Of the anthropoids-a hope that by
.N strange freak OF fate he had been
-n Ieturned to his own tribe; but a
,.' inspection had convinced him that
-. mtre Of another species.
N" me threatening bull continued his
.. Anl lerky cireling Of the ape-maD.
.,-- AFTER the manner that you have
<-o among dogs when q strange canine
ps among them, It occurred 20 Tar
% discover II the Language Of his
.[ tlpe was Identical with that OF this
L[, ,@mlly, and so he addressed the
k,~A1 the language Of the tribe OF
An. "Hp are YOU" he asked. "who threat
n. *'<en OF the Apes2"
c'r NARY brute looked his surprise.
Al. tu Akut," replied the other In the
IA. simple, primal tongue which is 50
n. the scale OF spoken languages
- Tarzan had surmIsed. II was
II. el <. With that Of the tribe In which
..-1, ~ Years Of his life had been
AZ. ~ Akut." said the ape. "Molak Is
N' ,osl.' ana king Go away or shall
n.' '. .ev how easily killed Molas, .
E ,.... IafzRn. $50 could / XIII you n
Az. 20 pe king, But Iarzan ofl the
ASK #4a'a nof be king of the tribe oI
E & |E.. AZ he wishes Is 70 live Ia peace
''eptfF. Let us be friends, Tar