Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-11
CHAPTER XVII
R,,u;op
Reunion

Reunion
AS TARTAN Of the Apes hurtled
Al through tho trees, the ~discordant
sounds of the battle between h Abys
sinians and the lions smote more and
more distinctly upon his sensitive ears
rebuilding his assurance that the
plight Of the human element OF the
conflict was critical indeed.
AT last the glare Of the camp fire
shone plainly through the interven
ing trees, and a moment later the
giant figure Of the ape-man paused
upon IN overhanging bough to o
down upon the bloody scene OF car
mage below.
His quick eye took in the whole
scene with a single comprehendins
glance, and stopped upon the figure
Of a woman standing facing a great
lion across the carcass of a horse.
The carnivore was crouching to
spring as Tarzan discovered the tragic
tableau. He was almost beneath the
branch upon which the ape-man stood,
naked and unarmed.
There was not even an instant's
hesitation upon the part of the lat
ter-it was as though he had not even
paused in his swift progress through
the trees, so lightnlnglike his survey
and comprehension Of the scene be
low him, so instantaneous his conse.
quent action.
So hopeless had seemed her situa.
ton to her that Jane Clayton but
stood in lethargic apathy, awaiting
the impact of the huge body that
would hurl her to the ground-await-
ing the monetary agony that cruel
talons and grisly fangs might inlict
before the coming of the merciful OBJ
livion which would end her sorrows
and her suffering.
What use to attempt escape? As
well face the hideous end as to be
dragged down from behind in futile
fight. She did not Eel close her eyes
to shut out the frightful aspect of
that snarling face, and so 1t was that
as she saw the lion preparing TO
charge she saw. too, a bronZed and
mighty figure leap from an overhang-
ing tree at the instant that Numa rose
in his spring. .
Wide went her eyes in wonder and
~incredulity as she beheld this SEEM
ing apparition risen from the dead.
The lion was fo~rgotten--her W peril
everything save the wondrous mir.
acle Of this recrudescence. With
parted lips, with palms tight pressed
against heaving bosoms, the girl lean.
ed forward. wide-eyed, enthralled by
the startling vision of Tarzan, her
dead mate.
She saw the sinewy form leap to the
shoulder of the lion. hurting against
the beast like a huge, animate batter
ingram. She saw the carnivore
brushed aside as he was almost upon
her, and in the instant she realized
that no substanceless wrath could
turn the charge of a maddened
lion with brute force greater than
the brute's.
Tarzan, her 'Tarzan. lived.
A cry Of unspeakable gladness
broke from her lips, only to lie in
terror as she saw the utter defense.
l~essness of her mate and realized that
the lion had recovered himself and
was turning upon Tarzan in mad lust
vengeance.
At the ape-man's feet lay the dis
carded rifle of the dead Abyssinian
whose mutilated corpse sprawled
Numa had abandoned 1t. The
quick glance which had swept inc
ground for some weapon of defense
discovered il: and as the lion feared
upon his hind legs to seize the rash
it's puny strength between Numa and
his prey. the heavy stock whirred
through the air and splintered upon
the broad forehead.
Not as an ordinary mortal might
strike a blow did Tarzan of the Apes
strike, but with the maddened frenzy
of a wild beast backed by the steel
thews which his wild. arboreal boy
hood had bequeathed him. When the
blow ended the splintered stock was
driven through the splintered skull
into the savage brain, and the heavy
iron barrel was Dent into a ruue V.
In the instant that the lion sank
lifeless. to the ground, Jane Clayton
threw herself into the eager arms OF
her husband. For a brief instant he
strained her dear form to his breast.
and then a glance about him awaken.
ed the ape-man to the dangers which
still surrounded them.
To remain was to court death. Tdr'
Fan seized Jane Clayton and lifted her
to a broad shoulder. The blacks who
had witnessed his advent looked on
in amazement as they saw tn naked
giant leap easily into h branches of
the tree from whence he had dropped
so ~uncannily upon the scene and
vanish as he had come. bearing away
their prisoner with him.
They were too we'll occupied in self
defense to attempt to halt him, MOI
could they have done so other than by
the wasting of a precious bullet which
might be needed the next instant to