The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-07-14

1"att" AAtth bTtVNs
Tarxan turned quickly and. seeing
the hideous face OF the gryf below
him. selzed a large frui, from a near.
by branch and hurled II vlciousiy
at the horned snout- The missile
struck full between the creatures
eyes. resulting In . reaction that
surprised tho ape-mAn: Il did not
arouse the beast 10 q show OF re-
vengeful rage. as Tarzan had ex.
pec,ed and hoped. instead the
creature gave a single vicious side
snap nj the fruit as Il bounded from
his skull. and then turned sulkily
away. walking off a few stepa-
There was that IN the act that re-
called Immediately to Tarxans mind
similar action on the preceding day
when the Tor o-don had struck one
Of the creatures across the face with
his staff. and instantly there sprung
TO the cunning and COURAGEOUS brain
plan Of escape from his prvdica.
ment that might have biAnched the
cheek Of the most heroic.
The gambling instinct Is not
strong among creatures OF the wild;
the chances OF their daily life are
sufficient stimuli for the beneficial
excitement OF their nerve ccnters. II
has remained for civilized man. pro
tected IN q measure from the nat
urai dangers Of existence. to invent
artificial ssimuiants In the form OF
cards and dice and roulette wheels.
Yet when necessity bids there are no
greater gamblers than the savage
deni-ens OF the jungle. the for~st.
and the hills. for as lightly ~ you
roll the ivory cubes upon the green
cloth they will gamble with death
their own lives the stake.
And 80 Tsrxan would gamble now
pitting the seemingly wild deduc.
tons Of his shrewd brain against all
the proofs OF the beetiai ferocity OF
his antagonists that hts experience
OF them had adduced-against all
the ageold folklore and legend that
had been handed down for count.
icss generations and passed on TO
him thru the lips OF Psn-af-lea.
Yet as he worked In preparation
for the greatest play that man can
make In the game OF life. he smiled:
nor was there any indication of
haste or excitement or nervousness
In his demeanor.
First he selected q long. straight
branch about two inches IN diameter
at its base. This he cut from the
tree with bis knife. removing the
smaller branches and twigs until he
had fashioned a pole about 10 feet In
length. This he sharpcned at the
smaller end. The staff finished to
his satisfaction he looked down upon
the triceratops.
fWhee-oor' he cried.
Instantly the beasts raised their
heads and looked at him. From the
throat OF one OF them came family
a low rumbling sound.
"Whee-ooF' repeated Tarzan. and
hurled the balance OF the carcass OF
the deer to them.
Instantly the gryfs fell upon II
with much believing. one of them
attempting to seize II and keep II
from the other; but finally the sec.
ond obtained a hold and an instant
later 1t had been torn asundcr and
greedily devoured. Once again they
looked up at the ape-man and this
time they saw him descending TO
the ground.
One Of them started toward him.
Again, Tarzan repeated the weird
cry OF the Toro-don. The gryf halt.
ed in his track. apparently puzzled.
while Tarzan slipped lightly to the
earth and advanced toward the near.
er beast. HIS staff raised menacingly
and the call OF the first-man upon
his lips.
Would the cry be answered by the
low rumbling OF the beast OF burden
or the horrid below Of the man
eater7 Upon the answer to this
question hung the fate Of the ape
man.
Pan-at-lee was listening intently
to the sounds OF the departing gryfs
as Tarzan led them cunningly from
her. and when she was sure that
they were far enough away to I'm.
sure her safe retreat she dropped
swiftly from the branches to the
ground and sped like a frightened
deer across the open space TO the
foot OF the cliff. STEPPED over the
body OF the Tor-o-don who had at
tackled her the night before and was
soon climbing rapidly up the an.
cient stone pegs Of the deserted cliff
village. In the mouth OF a cave near
that which she had occupied she
kindled a fire and cooked the
haunch OF venison that Tarzan had
left her, and from one OF the trick.
ling streams that ran down the face
OF the escarpment she obtained wa
ter to satisfy her thirst.
All day she waited, hearing In the
distance. and sometimes close at
hand. the believing OF the gryfs
which pursued the strange creature
that had dropped so miraculously
into her life. For him she felt the
same keen, almost fanntical loyalty
that many another had experienced
! for Tarzan Of the Apea. Beast and