Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-10-26
CHAPTER III.
A ,Junole Battle.

There were many apes with faces
similar to his own, and farther over
>in the book he found under m" some
little monkeys such as he saw daily
fiittering through the trees OF MS
primeval forest. But nowhere was pic
tured any of his own pepole. In all
the book was none that resembled ker-
chak or Tublat or Kala-
At first he tried to pick the little fig-
ures from the paper, but he soon saw
that they were not real, though ne
knew not what they might be, nor mad
he any words to describe them.
The boats and trains and cows and
horses were quite meaningless to him,
but not quite so battling as the odd lit
tie figures which appeared beneath ana
between the colored pictures some
strange kind of bugs he thought they
might be, for many Of them had legs'
though nowhere could he find one with
ewes and a mouth. 1t was his first IN
PRODUCTION to the letters Of the Alpha
bet, and he was over ten years old.
DI
print, or never had spoken with any
living thing which had the remotest
idea that such a thing as written IAN
guage existed, and never had he seen
any one reading.
So what wonder that the little boy
was quite at loss to guess the mean
ing Of these strange figures?
Near the back of the book he found
his old enemy, Sabor, the tiger, and,
just above him, coiled Mistah, the
snake
Oh, it was most engrossing! Never
before in all his ten years had he en-
joyed anything so much. So absorbed
was he that he did not note the ap-
preaching dusk until it was quite upon
him.
He put the book back in the cup
board and closed the door, for he did
not wish any one else to find and de-
story his treasure, and as he went out
into the gathering darkness he closed
the great door of the cabin behind him
as it had been before he discovered the
secret Of its lock. but before he left he
had noticed the hunting knife lying
where he had thrown it upon the floor,
and this he picked up and took with
him to show to his fellows.
He had taken scarce a dozen steps
toward the jungle when a great form
rose up before him from the shadows
Of a low bush.
At first he thought it was one Of his
own people, but in another instant he
realized that it was huge gorilla.
So close was he that there was no
chance for flight, and little Tarzan
knew that he must stand and fight for
his life; for these great beasts were
the deadly enemies Of his tribe, and
neither one nor the other ever asked
or gave quarter.
Had Tarzan been a full grown bull
ape Of the species Of his tribe he would
have been more than a match for the
gorilla, but being only little English
boy, though enormously muscular for
such, he stood no show against his
cruel antagonist. In his veins, how
ever, flowed the blood Of the best Of
a race Of mighty fighters. and back
of this was the training of his short
lifetime among the fierce brutes Of the
jungle.
He knew no fear as we know it; his
heart beat the faster. but from the eX-
citement and exhilaration Of adventure.
Had the opportunity presented itself
he would have escaped. but solely be-
cause his judgment told him he was no
match for the great thing which con-
fronted him. And as flight was out Of
the question he faced the gorilla
squarely and bravely without a tremor
of single muscle or any sign Of
panic.
In fact, he met the brute midway in
it's charge, striking it's huge body with
his closed fists and as futilely as if he
But in one hand he still clutched the
knife he had found, and as the brute,
striking and biting, closed upon him
the boy accidentally turned the point
toward the hairy beast.
AS it sank deep into the body Of him
the gorilla shrieked in pain and rage.
But the boy had learned in that brief
second a use for his sharp and shining
toy, so that as the tearing, striking
beast dragged him to earth he plunged
the blade repeatedly into it's breast.
The gorilla, fighting after the man.
ner of it's kind, struck terrific blows
with it's open hand and tore the flesh
at the boys throat and chest with its
mighty tusks.
For a moment they rolled upon the
ground in the fierce frenzy of combat
More and more weakly the torn and
bleeding arm struck home with the
long sharp blade. then the little figure
stiffened with a spasmodic jerk, and
Tarzan. the young Lord Greystoke,
rolled senseless upon the dead and de-
caying vegetation which carpeted his
jungle home.
A mile back in the forest the tribe
had heard the fierce challenge of the
gorilla, and, as was his custom when
any danger tnredteileu heICldh Cdiieu
his people together partly for mutual
protection against common enemy
since this gorilla might be but one OF
several. and also to see that all MEM
bers were accounted for.
1t was soon discovered that Tarzar
was missing, and Tublat was strongly
opposed to sending assistance. Ker-
chak himself had no liking for the
strange little waif, so he listened to
Tublat, and finally with a shrug of his
shoulders. turned back to the pie OF
leaves on which he had made his bed.
But Kala was Of a different mind
In fact. she had waited but to learn
that Tarzan was absent ere she was
fairly flying through the matted
branches toward the point from which
the cries of the gorilla were still
plainly audible.
Darkness had fallen, and an early
,,,oon uas sending its faint light to caSt