The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-01-01

past when our first shaggy ancestor
swung from swaying bough and
dropped lightly upon the soft turf Of
the first meeting place.
On the day that Tarzan won his
emancipation from the persecution
that had followed him remorselessly
for twelve of his thirteen years of
life, the tribe. now full hundred
strong. trooped silently through the
lower terrace OF the jungle trees and
dropped noiselessly upon the floor of
the amphitheater.
The rites of the Dum-Durn marked
important events in the life of the
tribe--a victory, the capture of a
prisoner, the killing of some large
fierce denizen Of the jungle. the
death or accession of d king, and
were conducted with set ceremonial
ism.
Today it was the killing of a giant
ape, a member of another tribe. ana
as the people OF Kerchak entered
the arena two mighty bulls might
have been seen bearing the body Of
the vanquished between them.
They laid their burden before the
earthen drum and then squatted
there beside it as guards, while. the
other members of the community
curled themselves in grassy hooks to
sleep until the rising moon should
give the signal for the commence
nent of their savage orgy.
For hours absolute quiet reigned
In the little clearing, except az It
was broken by the discordant notes
or brilliantly feathered parrots. or
the screeching and twitterfng of the
thousand jungle birds fitting cease
lessly amongst the vivid orchids and
fiamboyant blossoms which fes-
TONED the myriad, moss covered
branches Of the forest kins.
AT length as darkness settled
upon the jungle the apes com
menced to bestir themselves. and
soon they formed a great circle
about the earthen drum. The fe-
males and young squatted in a thin
line at the outer periphery of the
circle, while just in. front Of them
ranged the adult males. Before the
drum sat three old females. each
armed with knotted branch fifteen
or eighteen inches in length.
Slowly and softly they began tap
ping upon the resounding surface Of
the drum as the first faint rays of
the ascending moon silvered the en-
circling tree tops.
AS the light in the amphitheater
increased the females augmented the
frequency and force Of their blows
until presently a wild. rhythmic din
pervaded the great jungle for miles
in every direction. Huge, fierce
brutes stopped in their hunting.
with up-pricked ears and raised
heads. to listen to the dun booming
that betokened the Dunn Dunn of the
apes.
Occasionally one would raise his
shrill scream or thunderous roar In
answering challenge to the savage
din Of the anthropoids but none
came near to investigate or attack.
for the great apes, assembled in all
OF the power Of their numbers.
niled the breasts Of their jungle
neighbors with deep respect.
AS the din Of the drum rose to
almost deafening volume Kerchak
sprang into the open space between
the squatting males and the drum
mers.
Standing erect he thew his head
far back and looking full into the
eye Of the rising moon he beat upon
his breast with his great hairy paws
and emitted his fearful roaring
shrek.
Once-twice-thrice that terrifying
cry rang out across the teeming
solitude Of that unspeakabIy quick,
yet unthinkably dead. world.
Then, crouching, Kerchak skunk
noiselessly around the open circle.
veering far away from the dead body
lying before the altar-drum, but. as
ne passed, keeping his little, fierce.
wicked, red eyes upon the corpse.
Another male then sprang into
the arena, and, repeating the horrid
cries Of his king, followed stealthily
In his wake. Another and another
followed in quick succession until
the jungle reverberated with the now
almost ceaseless notes Of their blood
thirsty screams.
1t was the challenge and the hunt.
When all the adult males had
joinede in tho thin line of circling
dancers the attack commenced.
Kerchak, selling a huge club from
the pile which lay at hand for the
purpose, rushed furiously upon the
dead ape, dealing the corpse ter
rife blow. at the same time emitting
the growls and snarls of combat.
The din of the drum was now In,
creased, as well as the frequency
of the blows, and the war; as
each approached the victim. of the
hunt and delivered his bludgeon
blow, Joined in the mad whirl Of the
death dance.
Tarzan was one of the wild, leap
ing horde. His brown, sweat.
streaked, muscular body, gIistening
in the moonlight, shone supple and
graceful among the uncouth, awk.
ward, Hairy brutes about him.
None more craftily stealthy in
the mimic hunt, none more ferocious
than he in the wild ferocity of the
attack, nor none who leaped so RICH
into the air in the Dance of Death.
AS the noise and rapidity of the
drum beats Increased fha dapcors
apparently became intoxicated with
wild rhythm and the savage yells.
Their leaps and bounds increased
their barred fangs dripped saliva and
their lips and breasts were f1ecked
with foam.
For half an hour the weird dance
went on. until, at sign from Ker-