The evening world., 1920-06-16
CHAPTER 1.

10 frenzy Jhe cat pres
emily determined to come ur
"a after this disturber of his
peace; but when he essayed
to leap to the branch that held
Tarzan he found the sharp spear
point always in his face, and each
time as he dropped back he was
prodded viciously in some tender
part; but at length, rage having con-
quered his better judgment, he leaped
up the rough bole to the very branch
upon which Tarzan stood. Now the
two faced each other upon even foot
ing and Sheeta saw a quick revenge
and supper all in one. The hairless
ape-thing with the tiny fangs and the
puny talons would be helpless before
! him.
The heavy limb bent beneath tho
weight Of the two beasts as Sheeta
crept cautiously out upon it and Tar
IAN backed slowly away, growing. The
wind had risen to the proportions Of a
gale, so that even the greatest giants
OF the forest swayed, groaning, to its
force and the branch upon which the
two faced each other rose and fell like
the deck of a storm-tossed ship. Corr
was now entirely obscured, but vivid
flashes of lightning lit up the Jungle
at brief intervals, revealing the grim
tableaux of primitive passion upon tho
swaying limb
Tarzan backed away, drawing Sheeta
further from the stem OF the tree and
out upon the tapering branch where
his footing became ever more preca-
rious. The cat, Infatuated by the pain
OF spear wounds, was oversteppinE the
bounds OF caution. Already he had
reached point where he could do lit
tie more than maintain a secure foot
Ing and 1t was this moment that Tar
Fan chose to charge, With a roar
that mingled with the booming thun-
der from above he leaped toward the
panther, who could only claw futilely
with one huge paw while he chung to
the branch. with the others; but the
ape-man did not come within that
parabola OF destruction. Instead ne
leaped above menacing claws and
swapping fangs, turning in mid-air and
upon Sheeta's back, and at
the instant of impact his knife struck
deep into the tawny side. Then
Sheeta, impelled by pain and hate and
rage and the first law of nature, went
mad Screaming and clawing, he at
tempted to turn upon the ape-thins
to his back. For an instant
he toppled upon the now wildly gyrat-
ing limb, clutched frantically to save
himself and then plunged downward
into the darkness, with TarZan still
to him. Crashing through
splintering branches'the two fell. Not
for an instant did the ape-man con-
slider relinquishing his death-hold upon
his adversary. He had entered the
lists in mortal combat, and TRUE to the
primitive instincts OF the wild-the
unwritten law OF the jungle-one or
both must die before the battle ended.
Sheeta, catlike, alighted upon four
feet, the weight VI the
ape-man crushing him to earth, the
long knife again imbedded in his side.
Once the panther struggled to Use;
but only TO sink to earth again. Tar
Fan felt the giant muscles relax be-
meath him. Sheeta was dead. Ris,
ing, the ape-man placed foot upon
the body OF his vanquished foe, raised
MS lace lOWdTu lllJ Ailb ANoN-
ems, and as the lightning flashed and
the torrential rain broke upon him,
screamed forth the wild victory cry
OF the bull ape.
Having accomplished his aim and
driven the enemy from his lair, Tar
Fan gathered an arnful of large
fronds and climbed to his dripping |
couch. Laying few OF the fronds
upon the poles he lay down and COW
cred himself against the rain with |
the others, and despite the wailing |
Of the wind and the crashing Of the |
thunder, Immediately fell asleep.