Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-12-19
CHAPTER VII-continued.


s.
4 year had passed since the white
men had fired upon the lad and driven
him back into the jungle to take up
his search for the only remaining crea-
lures to whom he might look for COM
panionship-the great apes. For
months the two had wandered east
ward, deeper and deeper into the jun
gle.
The year had done much for the boy
turning his already mighty muscles
to thews of steel. developing his wood
craft to a point where it verged upon
the uncanny, perfecting his arboreal
instincts and training him in the use
of both natural and artificial weapons
of offense and defense.
He had become at last a creature of
marvellous physical powers and mental
crnning. He was still but boy, yet
SO great was his strength that the
powerful aHthropoid with which he
often engaged in mimic battles was
10 match for him. Akut had taught
him to fight as the bull ape fights, rJr
ever was there teacher better fitted
to instruct in the savage warfare of
primordial man or pupil better
equipped to profit by the lessons of a
master.
AS the two searched for band of
the almost extinct species of ape to
which Akut belonged they lived upon
the best the jungle afforded. Antelope
and zebra fell to the boys spear or
were dragged down by the two power
full beasts of prey, who leaped upon
them from some overhanging limb or
from the ambush of the underground
beside the trail to the water hole or
the ford.
Akut and Jack, now called Korak in
the ape language, were moving slowly
down the wind, and warily. because
the advantage was with whatever
beast might chance to be hunting
ahead of them, where their scent spoor
was being borne by the light breeze.
Suddenly the two halted Simultaneous
ly. Two heads were cooked upon one
side. Like creatures hewn from soil I
rock they stood immoyable, listening.
Not a muscle Quivered.
For several seconds they remained
thus. Then Korak advanced cautiously
u few yards and leaped nimbly into
n tree. Akut followed close upon his
heels. Neither had made q sound that
would have been appreciable TO hui
man ears at dozen PAGES.
Stopping often to listen. they crept
forward through the trees. That both
were greatly puzzled was apparent
from the questioning looks they cast
at one another from time to time.
Finally the lad caught a glimpse of
a palisade hundred yards ahead and
beyond it the tops of some goat skin
tents and number of matched huts.
His lip upcurled in a savage snarl.
Blacks How he hated them He
signed to Akut to remain where he
was while he advanced to reconnoiter.
He heard a voice beyond the pail
SADIE, and toward that he made his
way great tree overhung the in
closure at the very point from which
the voice came. Into this K0rak crept.
His ears told him of the proximity of
a human being. All that his eyes re-
auired was single glance to show
him his target; then, nghtning-like.
the missile would fly to its goal.
With raised spear he crept among
the branches of the tree, glaring down
ward in search of the owner of the
nh h.aIO
At last he saw human back. The
spear hand few to the limit of the
throwing position to gather the force
that would send the iron shod missile
completely through the body of the I'M
conscious victim. And then the Killer
paused. He leaned forward little to
get a better view of the target.
He lowered his spear cautiously that
It might make no noise by scrnping
against foliage or branches. Quietly
he crouched In comfortable position
along a great limb. and there he lay
with wide eyes, looking down in won
der upon the creature he had erept
upon to kiil-looking down upon Il lit
tle girl. a little nut brown maiden.
korak wondered what the girl would
10 were he to drop suddenly from the
tree to her side. Most likely she would
scream and run away. Then would
come the men of the village with
spears and guns and set upon him.
They would either kill him or drive
him away.
A lump rose in the boys throat. He
craved the companiOnship OF his own
kind, though he hardly realized how
greatly. He would have liked to slip
down beside her, though he knew from
the words he had overheard that she
spoke a language with which he was
unfamiliar.
At last he hit upon q plan. He
would attract her attention and reas-
sure her by q smiling greeting from
grSater distance. Silently he wOrmed