Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-10-20

Of panther that had fallen to the gun
or one OF them who had been hunting
inland, Paulvitch lay sleeping beneath
his tree. He was awakened by tho
touch Of a hand upon his shoulder.
With start he sat up to see hugo
anthropoid ape squatting ut his side,
inspecting him intently.
The Russian was thoroughly fright
ened. He glanced toward the sailors
they were couple Of hundred yards
away.
Again the apo pluckcd at his shout
ders. tnbbering plaintively. Pnulvitch
saw no menace In the inquiring gaze
or in the attitude Of the beast. He got
slowly to his feet The ape rose at his
side.
Half doubled, tho man shunled eau
tiously away toward the sailors. The
ape moved with him. taking ono Of his
arms. They had como almost to the
little knot Of men before they were
seen. and by this time Paulvltch had
become assured that the beast meant
him no harm Tho animal evidently
was accustomed to the association Of
human beings.
1t occurred to tho Russian that the
ape represented considerable and GER
tain money value. and before they
reached tho sailors he had decided that
he should he the one to profit by It.
When the men looked up and saw
the oddly pnircd couple shufling to-
ward them they were filled with amaze
nd III, ,,,,1& Ia
two. The ape showed no sign of fear.
Instead, he graspcu each sailor by the
shoulder and pcc:cd long and earnestly
into his face. Ilnving inspected them
all, he returned to Pnulvitch's side, dis
appointment written strongly upon his
countennnce and In his carriage.
Tho men were delighted with him.
They gathered about. asking Paulvitch
many questions and examining his com.
panion. The Russian told them TINT
tho ape was his Nothing further would
he offer, but kept harping continually
upon tho same theme: "The ape is
mine. The ape Is mine"
firing Of Paulvitch. one of the men
essayed PLEASANTLY. Cifcling about
behind the ape, he prodded the anthro-
poid back with d pin. .,
4 Like a fash HE heast Wheeled upon
its tormentor, and in tho brief instant
Of turning the placid, friendly animal
was metamorphoscd to frenzied do.
mon OF rage.
The broad grin that had sat upon tho
sailors face as he pcrpetrated his little
joke froZe to an expression Of terror.
He attempted to dodge tho long arms
that reached for him. but, failing, drew
a long knife that hung ut his belt.
Tho ape toro tho weapon from the
mans grasp with single wrench and
flung 1t to ono side; then his yellow
fangs were buried In tho sailors shoul-
der.
With sticks and knives tho mans
companions fell upon the benst, while
Paulvitch danced around the cufsing,
snarling pack, mumbling and scream
Ing pleas and threats. He saw his vi.
sions Of wealth rapidly dissipating be-
fore the weapons of the sailors.
The ape, however, proved no easy
victim to the superior numbers that
seemed fated to ovcrwhclm him. Ris-
Ing from the snilor who had precipi-
tatcd the battle. ho shook his giant
shoulders, freeing himself from two of
the men that were clnging to his back
and with mighty blows OF his open
palms fellcd one after another Of his
attackers. leaping hither and thither
with the agility OF a small monkey.
The fight had been witnessed by the
captain and mate, who were just land
ing from the Marjorie W., and Paul
witch saw these two now running for
ward with drawn rcvolvers, while the
two sailors who had brought them
ashore trailed ut their heels. Tho ape
stood looking about him at the havoc
he had wrought, but whether he was
awaiting renewal OF the attack or
was deliberating which Of his foes he
should exterminate first, Paulvitch
could not guess.
What he could guess, however, wns
that the moment tho two officers came
within firing distance Of the beast they
would put an end to him in short order
unless something were done, and done
quickly, to prevent.
The ape had made no move to attack
the Russian, but even SO, the man was
none too sure of what might happen
were he to interfere with the savage
beast, now thoroughly aroused to rage
and with the smell Of new spilled blood
fresh in It's nostrils. For an instant he
hesitated, and then again there rose be-
fore him the dreams of afIuence which
this great anthropoid would doubtless
turn to realities once Paulvitch had
landed him safely in some great me-
tropolis like London.
Tho captain was shouting to him now
to stand aside SO he might have a shot
at the animal, but instead Paulvitch
shuflled to the apes side, and, though
tho mans hair quivered ut its roots. no
mastered his fear and laid hold Of tho
animals arm.
"ComeW he commanded, and tugged
to pull tho beast from among the sail-
ors, many Of whom were now sitting
up In wide eyed fright or crawling
away from their conqueror upon hands
md knnea