Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-26

Side by side they set of across the
rough plain. for the boy wished first
to be warm. The ape showed him the !
best places to dig for rodents and
worms, but the lad only gagged at the
thought Of devouring the repulsive
things. Some eggs they found, and
these he sucked raw, az also he ate |
roots and tubers which Akut un-
earthed.
That night the son Of Tarzan was |
colder than he ever had been In all his !
life. The pajama trousers were not |
very heavy. but they we're much |
heavier than nothing. And the next /
day he roasted In the hot sun, for
arain their way led much across wide
and treeless plains.
1t was still in the boys mind to
travel to the souti. and circle back to
the coast in search o, smother outpost
of civilization. He hao said nothing
of this plan to Akut, for he Aaew that
the old ape would look with disp.eas-
ure upon any suggestion that savoreu
of separation.
For a month the two wandered on.
the boy learning rapidly the laws of
the Jungle; his muscles adapting them
selves to the new mode of life that
had been thrust upon them The thews
Of the sire had been transmitted to
the son-it needed only the hardening
of use to develop them.
One day as they were moving slowly
along beside a hver they came unex-
pectedly upon a native village. Some
children were playing beside the water
The boys heart leaped within his
breast at sight of them. For more
than a month he had seen no human
,, being. What if these were naked saw
ages?. What if their skins were black?
Were they not creatures fashioned in
the mold of their Maker as was he?
They were his brothers ana sisters
! He started toward them.
| With a low warning Akut laid a
i hand upon his arm to hold him back.
The boy shook himself free and, with
a shout of greeting, ran forward to-
! ward the ebon players.
| The sound of his voice brought ev-
cry head erect. Wide eyes viewed him
for IN instant, and then. with screams
Of terror, the children turned and fed
toward the village. At their heels ran
their mothers. and from the village
gate. in response to the alarm, came
score Of warriors, hastily snatched
spears and shields ready in their
hands.
/; At sight of the CONSERVATION he had
wrought the boy halted. The glad
smile faded from his face as with wild
shouts and menacing gestures the war
riors ran toward him. Akut was call
ing to him from behind to turn and
fee; that the blacks would kill him.
With q low snarl. quite similar to
that of a baff1ed beast. he turned and
ran into the jungle. There was Akut
awaiting him in 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
j Tarzan. He Ind come with boys
glad and open heart TO offer his friend
ship to these people who We're human
beings like himself. He had been met
with suspicion and spears. They had
not even listened to him. Rage and
hatred consumed him.
. They made detour about the hos
tile village and resumed their journey
toward the coast.
All the while jacks training went
on under the guidance Of Akut. Yet
though the boy loved the jungle, hs
had not let his selfish desires out
weigh the sense Of duty that hat
brought him to realization of tn
moral wrong which lay beneath tn
adventurous escapade that had brough
him to Africa. His love of father ant
mother was strong within him, TOT
strong to permit unalloyed happines:
which was undoubtedly causing then
days of sorrow.
And so he held tight to his deter
: mination to find port upon the coas
, where he might communicate will
them and receive funds for his return
S to London. There he felt sure that III
y could now persuade his parents to lie
him spend at least portion of hi
|. time upon those African estates whicl
from little careless remarks droppe'
j. at home he knew his father possessed
y That would be something-better q
n least than a lifetime of the crampet
J. and cloying restrictions of civilization
IL And so he was rather coutente'
o than otherwise as he made his way II
n the direction of the coast, for. Will
e he enjoyed the liberty and the savag
y pleasures Of the wild. his cOnscienc
was at the same time clear, for h
: knew that he was doing all that lay i
. his power to return to his parents. h
&c looked forward. too, to meeting whit
n men aRain-creatures Of his own kint
If for there had been many occasion
r upon which he had longed for othe
companionship than that Of the Of
:" ape.
n And at last the much dreamed
ID moment came. They were passin
" through a tangled forest when tn
g boys sharp eyes discovered from tn
is lower branches through which he wa
l. travelling an old but well marked spot