Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-19

their women and children might have ex-
pected--a shower of spears The missiles
struck all about the boy, but none touched
him
Again his spine tingled, and the short
hairs lifted at the nape of his neck and
along the top of his scalp. His eyes mar
rowed Sudden hatred flared in them to
wither the expression of glad friendliness
that had lighted them but an instant before.
with a low snarl quite similar to that
of bafned beast, he turned and ran into
the jungle. There was Akut awaiting him
In n tree. The ape urged him to hasten
In flight for the wise old anthropoid knew
that they two, naked and unarmed were
no match for the sinewy black warriors
who would doubtless make some sort OF
search for them through the jungle.
But a new power moved the son of Tar
zan. He had come with n hoy's glad and
open heart to offer his friendship to these
people who were human beings like himself.
lie had been met with suspicion and spears.
They had not even listened to him. Rage
and hatred consumed him.
When Akut urged speed he held back.
He wanted to fight; yet his reason made 1t
all too plain that II would be but foolish
sacrifice of his life to meet these armed
men with his naked hands and his teeth,
Already the boy thought of his teeth, of his
fighting fangs when possibility of combat
loomed close.
Moving slowly through the trees, he kept
his eyes over his shoulder, though he no
longer neglected the possibilities of other
dangers which might Turk on either hand
or ahead--his experience with the loness
did not need repetition to insure the per-
manency of the lesson IL had taught. Behind
he could hear the savaEes advancing with
shouts and cries lie Jagged further be-
hind until the pursucrs were in sight. They
did not see him, for they were not looking
among the branches of the tree for human
quarry.
The lad kept Just ahead of them For a
mile, perhaps they continued the search
and then they turned back toward the
village.
Here was the boys opportunity that for
which he had been waiting. while the hot
blood of revenge coursed through his veins
until he saw his pursuers through a scarlet
haze.
followed them. Akut was no longer in sight.
Thinking that the boy followed he had
gone on further ahead. He had no wish
to tempt fate within range of those deadly
spears.
Sinking silently from tree to tree, the
boy dogged the footsteps of the returning
warriors. At last one dropped behind his
fellows as they followed n narrow path
toward the village. A grim smile lit the
lads face Swiftly he hurried forward
until he moved almost above the uncon-
scious black-stalltng him as Sheeta, the
seen Sheeta do on many occasions
Suddenly and silently he leaped forward
and downward upon the broad shoulders
of his prey. In the instant of contact his
fingers sought and found the mans throat.
The weight of the boys body hurled the
black heavily to the ground the knees in
his back knocking the breath from him as
he struck
Then II set of strong, white teeth fas-
tened themselves in his neck, and muscular
fingers closed tighter upon his windpipe.
For n time the warrior struggled fran
ticaly, throwing himself about in an effort
to dislodge his antagonist; but all the while
he was weakening, and All the while the
grim and silent thing he could not see Clung
tenaciously to him and dragged him slowly
into the bush to one side of the trail.
Hidden there at last safe from the pry
ing eyes of searchers should they miss their
fellow and return for him. the lad choked
the life from the body of his victim. At
last he knew by the sudden struggle, fol-
lowed by limp relaxation, that the warrior
was dead.
Then a strange desire seized him. His