The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-07
AUTHOR OF
TARTAN OF THE APES"

Shut up, Dhung," he cried, cor
I'll pitch you over the edge"
The remaining member Of the
family party, a girl, just ripening
into womanhood, remained silent
where she was seated, leaning
against the face of the clH. Sud
denly the woman turned upon her.
why cont you do something.
Gura?" she demanded. "You sit
there and let them attack me and
never raise a hand in my defense"
But no one has attacked you,
mother" said the girl, with a sigh.
But I will" yelled Scmv. Selling
a short club that lay beside him.
IN knock her head off if she
doesn't keep a still tongue in it,"
AT this instant a loud scream at
tracted the attention of all toward
another family group before a cave,
a little farther along the ledge.
Here, a man, grasping woman by
her hair, was beating her with
stick.
Hit her again!" yelled Scurv.
Scratch out his eyes!" screamed
Sloo.
Tanar looked on in conformation
and surprise. Never had he wit
messed such tumult and turmoil in
the villages Of the Saria1s, and COM
ing, as he just had, from Amiocap,
the island Of love, the contrast was
even more appalling.
MONT mind Them said Balal,
- who was watching the Sar-
ian and had noticed the express
sion Of surprise and disgust upon
his face. IF you stay with us long,
you will get used to it, for it always
is like this. Come on, let's eat;
the food is ready" and drawing his
stone knife he fished into the pot
and speared a piece Of meat.
Tanar, having no knife, had re-
course to one of his arrows, which
answered the purpose quite as well
and then, one by one, the family
gathered around and fell upon the
steaming stew with avidity.
The caldron emptied, Scurv and
Sloo crawled into the dark interior
of their cave to sleep, where they
were presently followed by Balal.
Gura, the daughter, took the cal
dron and started down the cliff
toward the brook. AS she made her
precarious way down rickety ladders
and narrow lodges, little Dhung, her
brother, amused himself by hurting
stones at her.
stop that" commanded Tanar.
"You might hit her"
THAT is what I am trying to do
said the little imp.
He hurled another missile and
with that Tanar grabbed him by
the scruff of the neck. Instantly
Dhung let out a scream that brought
Sloo rushing from the cave.
HE is killing me-" shrieked
Dhung, and at that the cave woman
turned upon Tanar with flashing
eyes and a face distorted with rage.
Wait" said Tanar, in a calm
voice. II was not hutting the child
He was hurting rocks at his sister
and I stopped him.
What business have you to stop
fim?" demanded S1oo "She is his
sister, he has a right to hurl rocks
at her If he chooses"
But he might have struck her
and If he had she would have fallen
to her death below"
What if she did? That is none
of your business snapped Sloo, and
grabbing Dhung by his long hair
she cuffed his ears and dragged him
into the interior of the cave, where
for a long time Tanar could hear
blows and screams, mingled with the
sharp tongue Of Sloo and the curses
of Scurv.
lar below him Tanar saw the
l. girl, Gura, washing the earthen-
ware vessel in little stream, after
which she filled it with fresh water
and lifted the heavy burden to hel
head. He wondered at the ease with
which she carried the great weight
and was at a loss to know how she
intended to scale the precipitous
cliff and the rickety, makeshift
ladders with her heavy load.
Watching her progress with con-
siderable interest he saw her ascend
the lowest ladder, apparently with
as great ease and agility as though
she was unburdened. Up she came
balancing the receptacle with nc
evident effort.
Ito Be Continued
Copyright. 1881, by Metropolitan News