The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-05-07
CHAPTER XVIII.
Home.

sounds of the battle between the Abys-
sinians and the lions smote more and
more distinctly upon his sensitive ears.
redoubling 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 intervening
trees ard a moment later the giant
figure Of the ape-man paused upon an
overhanging bough TO look down upon
the bloody scene of carnage below
His quick eye took in the whole
scene with single comprehending
glance and stopped upon the figure of
woman standing facing great lion
across the carcass of horse.
The carnivore was crouching to
spring as Tarzan discovered the tragic
tableau. Numa 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 latter-it was as
though he had not even paused in his
swift progress through the trees, so
lightning-like his survey and compre-
hension of the scene below him-so in
Simultaneous his consequent action.
Wide went Jane Clayton's eyes in
wonder and incredulity as she beheld
this seeming apparition risen from the
dead. The lion was forgotten-her
own peril-everything save the won
! drous miracle Of this strange recru-
descence.
She saw the sinewy form leap to
the shoulder of the lion, hurtling
against the leaping beast like huge,
animate battering ram. She saw the
carnivore brushed aside as he was al
most upon her, and In the instant she
realized that no substanceless wrath
could thus turn the charge of mad
dened lion with brute force greater
than the brute's.
Tarzan, her Tarzan, lived A cry of
unspeakable gladness broke from her
lips, only to die in terror as she saw
the utter defenseless of her mate and
realized that the lion had recovered
himself and was turning upon Tarzan
In mad lust for vengeance.
At the ape-man's feet lay the dis
carded rifle of the dead, Abyssinian
whose mutilated corpse sprawled
where Numa had abandoned it. The
quick glance which had swept the
ground for some weapon of defense
discovered it, and as the lion reared
upon his hind legs to seize the rash
man-thing who had dared interpOse its
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 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 bent into a rude v.
In the instant that the lion sank
lifeless to the ground Jane Clayton
threw herself into the eager arms of
her husband. For brief instant he
strained her dear form to his breast,
and then a glance about him awakened
the ape-man to the dangers which still
surrounded them.
The blacks who had witnessed his
advent looked on in amazement as
they saw the naked giant leap easily
into the 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.
Unmolested, Tarzan passed from the
camp of the Abyssinians. from which
the din of conflict followed him deep
Into the jungle until distance gradu-
ally obliterated 1t entirely.
Back to the spot where he had left
Werper went the ape-man, joy in his
heart now, where fear and sorrow had
so recently reigned, and in his mind
q determination to forgive the Belgian
and aid him in making good his escape.
But when he came to the place Wer-
per was gone, and though Tarzan
called aloud many times he received
no reply. Convinced that the man had
purposely eluded him for reasons of
his own, John Clayton felt that he was
under no obligations to expose his'wife
to further danger and discomfort in
the prosecution of a more thorough
search for the missing Belgian.
HE has acknowledged his guilt by
his flight, Jane" he said. ''We will
let him go to lie in the bed that he
has made for himself"
Straight as homing pigeons the two
made their way toward the ruin and
desolation that had once been the Gen.
ter of their happy lives, and which
was soon to be restored by the willing
black hands of laughing laborers
made happy again by the return OF
the master and mistress whom they
had mourned as dead
Past the village of Achmet Eek their
lay led them, and there they found
pc charred remains of the pail.
nd the native huts, still smok-
-. IL -.