The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1917-12-27
CHAPTER Vll-Continued.

A 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
puniOnship-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 point where it verged upon
the uncunny, perfecting his arboreal
instincts and training him in the use
of both natural and artificial weapons
of offense and defense.
He had become Mt last creature of
marvellous physical powers and mental
cunning. He was still but boy, yet
so great was his strength that the
powerful anthropod with which he
often engaged in mimic battles was
no match for him. Akut had taught
him to fight as the bull ape fights, nor
ever was there Il teacher better fitted
10 instruct in the savage warfare Of
primordial man or pupil better
equipped to profit by the lessons Of Il
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, We're moving slowly
down the wind, and wnrlly, because
the advantage was with whatever
beast might chance to be hunting
uheud 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 solid
rock they stood immovable, listening.
Nor n muscle quivered.
For several seconds they remained
thus. Then Korak advanced cautiously
IL few yards and leaped nimbly into
IL tree. Akut followed close upon his
heels. Neither had made Il sound that
would have been appreciable to hu-
man ears at a 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
ut one another from time to time.
Finally the lad caught glimpse OF
pallsude n hundred yards ahead ant
beyond it the tops of some goat Skin
tents and number of matched huts
His lip upcurled in 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
sade, and toward that he made hi:
way. A great tree overhung the in
closure at the very point from which
the voice came. Into this Korak crept
His spear was ready in his hand
Ills ears told him of the proximity o
n human being. All that his eyes re
quired was II single glance to shov
him his target; then, lightning like
the missile would fly to its goal
With raised spear he crept amonj
p the brnncl SIS of the tree, glazing down
ward In search of the owner of tn
voice which rose TO him from below.
At last he saw human back. Tn
spear hand few to the limit of tn
throwing position to gather the fore
that would send the iron shod missil
completely through the body Of the I'LL