The Son of Tarzan

the boy's troubled mind took no cognizance of them. His conscience was harassed by the thought of his mother's suffering. Self-blame plunged him into the depths of misery. The killing of

ad thrust him into the jungle a fugitive. He dared not return to the coast at this point-not that he was so greatly influenced through personal fear as from a de

. He would return to civilization by another way. None would guess that he had been connected

protection from the chill dampness of the jungle, and only that side of him which was pressed against the warm body of his shaggy companion approxim

kut into w

ood, out there in the sunlight," and he pointed to an open p

refully about, sniffing the morning air. Then, satisfied that no da

across the rough plain, for the boy wished first to be warm. The ape showed him the best places to dig for rodents and worms; but the lad only gagged at the thought of devouring the repulsive things. Some eggs they found, and these he sucked raw, as also he ate roots

the ape drank he cautioned the boy to be watchful; but as he drank he raised his head from time to time to cast a quick glance toward a clump of bushes a hundred yards a

danger near

boy. "I saw nothing

you but little in the

this side of the water hole, for else the zebras would have discovered it and fled before we came; but upon the other side toward which the wind blows danger migh

thing?" asked the

clump of bushes where the tall

e boy. "How do you kno

es; but later you must learn to know the sigh of Numa. Then I watched and at last I saw the tall grasses moving at one point to a force other than the force of the wind. See, they are spread t

n the ordinary boy inherits-and at last h

here," and he pointed. "His head

om us; but now is an excellent time to learn to know Numa, for you must learn to know him well if you would live long in the jungle. Where the great apes are many Numa leaves us alone. Our fangs are long and strong, and we can fight; but when we are alone and he is hungry we are no match for him. Come, we will circle him and catch his scent. The sooner you learn to know it the better; but keep close to the trees

which he had landed and make his way immediately back to London. He thought now only of the savage joy of living, and of pitting one's wits and prowess against the wiles and might of the savage jungle brood which haunted the broad plains and the gloomy fore

trange familiarity-a weird familiarity in it that made the short hairs rise at the nape of his neck, and brought his upper lip into an involuntary snarl that bared his fighting fangs. There was a sense of stretching of the skin about his ears, for all the world as though those members were

, and the next he knew he was recalled suddenly to a contemplation of other matters than the hidden Numa by a shrill scream of warning from the Ape. Turning his eyes quickly in the direction of his companion, the boy saw that, standing in the path directly before him, which sent tremors of excitement racing along every nerve of his body. With body half-merging from a clump of bushes in which she m

ill. It was suspicious. Probably he had ulterior designs upon her lord and master or upon the fruits of their hunting. A

e!" scre

ness leaped for him. Like a monkey he pulled himself up and to one side. A great forepaw caught him a glancing blow at the hips-just grazing him. One curved talon hooked itself in

ive upon the head of the enemy, until in realization of the futility of words as weapons he bethought himself of something heavier to hurl. There was nothing but dead twigs and branches at ha

e uselessness of her vigil, or prompted by the pangs of hunger, she stalked majestically away and

e ground, to take up their interrupted journey once m

on behind you you might have discovered

by her without seeing

as cha

et, and-" he ground his teeth in mimicry of the crunching of great jaws in flesh. "It is a lesson," he resumed. "You

trousers had not been heavy; but they had been much heavier than nothing. And the next d

h of another outpost of civilization. He had said nothing of this plan to Akut, for he knew

been transmitted to the son-it needed only the hardening of use to develop them. The lad found that it came quite naturally to him to swing through the trees. Even at great heights he never felt

ne day to bathe in a little stream that was too small to harbor crocodiles, and while he and Akut had been disporting themselves in the cool waters a

ne the surprise of his schoolmates could they but see him now. They would envy him. Yes, how they would envy him. He felt sorry for them at such times, and again as he thought of them amid luxuries and comforts of their English homes, happy with their fathers and mothers, a most uncomfortable lump would arise into the boy's throat, and he would see a vision of his mot

m-for over a month he had seen no human being. What if these were naked savages? What if their skins were black? Were they not creatures fashioned in the mold of their Maker, as was he? They were his bro

error, the children turned and fled toward the village. At their heels ran their mothers, and from the village ga

nted to play with their children. Of course they did not understand a word that he addressed to them, and their answer was what any naked creature who had run suddenly out of the jungle upon their women and children might have expected-a shower of spears. The missiles struck all about the boy, but none touched him. Again his spine tingled and the short hairs lifted at the nape of his neck and along the top of his scalp. His eyes narrowed. Sudden hatred fla

and spears. They had not even listened to him. Rage and hatred consumed him. When Akut urged speed he held back. He wanted to fight, yet his reason made it all too plain that it would be but

n it had taught. Behind he could hear the savages advancing with shouts and cries. He lagged further behind until the pursuers were in sight. They did not see him, for they were not looking among the branches of the trees for human quarry. The lad kept just ahead of th

pears. Slinking silently from tree to tree the boy dogged the footsteps of the returning warriors. At last one dropped behind his fellows as they followed a narrow path toward the village. A grim smil

nees in his back knocking the breath from him as he struck. Then a set of strong, white teeth fastened themselves in his neck, and muscular fingers closed tighter upon his wind-pipe. For a time the warrior struggled frantically, throwing

s dead. Then a strange desire seized him. His whole being quivered and thrilled. Involuntarily he leaped to his feet and placed one foot upon the body of his kill. His chest expanded. He raised his face toward the heavens and opened his mouth to voice a

zan was to typify all his future kills, just as the hideous vic