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

of Il 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 the
touch of hand upon his shoulder.
With Il start he sat up to see huge
anthropoid ape squntting at his side.
inspecting him intcntly.
The Russian was thoroughly fright
ened. He glanced toward the sailors
they were n couple OF hundred yards
away.
Again the apo pluckcd at his Shout
dcrs. jabbcring plnintively. pnulvitch
saw no menace In the inqulrng gaze
or In the attitude OF tho bcnst. lie got
slowly to his feet The ape rose Mt his
side
Half doubled, tho man shunled eau
tiously away toward the sailors. The
ape moved with him. taking one Of his
arms. They had como almost to the
little knot of men before they were
seen, and by this time Paulvitch had
become assured that the beast meant
him no harm. The animal evidently
was accustomed to the association Of
human beings
1t occurred to tho Russian TINT the
apo represented considerable and ccr-
tain money value. and before they
reached the sailors he Ind decided that
he should be the one to profit by It.
When the men looked up and saw
the oddly paired couple ShulIling to-
ward them they were filled with amaze.
mcnt and started on Il run toward the
two. The ape showed no sign of fear.
Instead, ho ;raSp"t! each sailor by the
shoulder and p"e"cd long and earnestly
into his face. Having inspected them
all. he returned To rnulvitchS side, dis
appointment written strongly upon his
countenancc and In his carriage.
The men were drli"htcd with him.
They gathered about. asking Paulvitch
many questions and examining his COM
panion. The russian told them that
tho ape was his. Nothing further would
he offer, but kept harping continually
upon tho same theme: 1.-THE ape Is
mine. The ape Is minc."
firing OF pnulvitch. one OF tho men
essaycd plcnSantry. Circlmg about
behind the ape, he proddcd the unthro-
poid hack with pin.
Like flash nio 'bchst wncGled upon
Its tormcntor, ana In the brief instant
OF turning the placid, friendly animal
was mctamorphoscd to II frcnzicd de-
mon Of rage.
The broad grin that had sat upon the
sailors face rs he pcrpctrntcd his little
joke froZc to an expression OF terror
lie attempted to dodge the long arms
that reached FOR him, but, failing, drew
IL long knife that hung Mt his belt.
The ape toro the weapon from the
mans grasp with single wrench and
flung 1t to one side; then his yellow
fangs We're buried in the sailors shoul-
der.
With sticks and knives the mans
companions fell upon the beast, while
Pnulvitch danced around the cursing,
snarling pack, mumbing and scream
Ing pleas ana threats. IIo 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 fntcd to Ovcrwhclm him. Ris-
Ing from the sailor who had prccipi-
tatcd the battle. hc shook his giant
shoulders, freeing himself from two OF
the men TINT were clinging to his back
and with mighty blows OF his open
palms fclled one after another Of his
attackers. lcaping hithcr and thither
with the agility OF Il 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 reviewers, while the
two sailors who had brought them
ashore trailed ut their heels. The ape
stood looking about him at tho havoc
he had wrought, but whether he was
awaiting a renewal OF the attack or
was deliberating which Of his foes he
should cXterminato first, Paulvitch
could not guess.
What he could guess, however, was
that the moment tho two officers came
within firing distance Of the beast they
would put IN end to him In short order
unless something were done, and done
quickly, to prevent.
The ape had made no move to attack
tho Russian, but even so, tho man was
none too sure OF what might happen
were he to interfere with tho savage
beast, now thoroughly aroused to rage
and with the smell OF new spilled blood
fresh in its nostrils. For an instant he
hcsitated, and then again there rose be-
fore him the dreams Of afTucncc which
this great anthropoid would doubtless
turn to realities once Paulyitch had
landed him safely in some great mo.
tropolis like London.
Tho captain was shouting to him now
to stand aside so he might have a shot
ut the animal, but instead paulvitch
shuilled to the apes side, and, though
the mans hair quivcrcd Mt its roots, no
mastered his fear and laid hold Of tho
animals arm.
Come" he commanded, and tupgctl
to pull the beast from among the sail-
ors, many Of whom were now sitting
up in wide eyed fright or crawling
away from their conqucror upon hands