The morning after the Dum-Dum, the tribe started slowly back through the forest toward the coast. The body of Tublat lay where it had fallen, for the people of Kerchak do not eat their own dead. The march was but a leisurely search for food. Once old Sabor crossed their path.

This sent them scurrying to the safety of the higher branches. Tarzan sat directly above the lioness—and hurled a pineapple at their ancient enemy. Into his mind a great plan sprung. He had killed the fierce Tublat; now would he track down the crafty Sabor and slay her likewise!

At the bottom of his little English heart bent the great desire to cover his nakedness with clothes. He had learned from his picture books that all MEN were so covered, while APES and every other living thing went naked. So he desired the skin of Sabor, the lioness.

On this day he had other things to attract his attention. Suddenly it became as midnight. Faintly came a low, sad moaning. The great trees bent. Vivid and blinding lightning flashed from the whirling, inky clouds above. Roaring thunder belched forth its fearsome challenge. The deluge came—pandemonium broke loose!

The tribe huddled in shivering fear from the cold rain at the bases of great trees. For hours it raged—ending suddenly. To Tarzan came a dawning light to explain the mystery of clothes. How snug he'd have been beneath Sabor's heavy coat! So was added a further incentive.

Tarzan always kept his grass rope lasso in readiness when journeying through the forest, catching many small animals. At last came she whom he sought—Sabor, the lioness. Nearer and nearer—to where Tarzan of the Apes crouched upon his limb, the coils of his long rope poised ready.

Like a thing of bronze sat Tarzan. Sabor passed beneath. Three strides she took. Then the silent coil shot out and settled about her neck. With a quick jerk, Tarzan snapped the noose tight about the glossy neck. She made a bound and fell upon her neck! Sabor was trapped.

But Sabor had now found that it was only a slender cord that held her, and, grasping it in her huge jaws, she severed it! Tarzan was much hurt. His well-laid plan had come to naught. Sabor paced back and forth beneath the tree for hours, often springing at him.

Tarzan mocked and danced above her, hurling twigs and branches at her unprotected face. At last he tired of the sport. With a parting roar of challenge, and a well-aimed ripe fruit that spread over her face, he swung rapidly through the trees a hundred feet above the ground.

In a short time he was among the members of his tribe. And here he recounted the details of his adventure, with swelling chest and so considerable a swagger that he impressed even his bitterest enemies, while Kala fairly danced for joy and pride at her foster-son's bravery and prowess.

Tarzan of the Apes lived on in his wild jungle existence with little change for several years, growing stronger and wiser. With Tantor the Elephant he made friends. On many moonlit nights Tarzan and Tantor walked together. All else of the jungle were his enemies, except his own tribe.

At eighteen, Tarzan had never seen a human being other than himself. But as he sat one day in a tall tree, trying to solve the mystery of the cabin, the ancient security of his jungle was broken forever. A strange cavalcade strung in single file over a low hill.

In advance were fifty black warriors armed with wooden spears, long bows, and poisoned arrows. Then came several hundred women and children followed by more warriors. They were fleeing from the white man's soldiers, having massacred a white officer. They set to work to build a new village. Tarzan wondered.

A month later it was complete, and they had taken up their old life in their new home. Several moons passed before they ventured far from their safety, for many had fallen prey to the jungle animals. But one day Kulonga, son of their old king, wandered far toward the west.

Warily he stepped—his long shield grasped close to his sleek, ebony body. Night found him far from his father's village. He climbed into the fork of a great tree, fashioned a rude platform, and curled himself for sleep. Three miles to the west of him slept the tribe of Kerchak.

Early the next morning, the apes were astir, moving through the jungle in search of food. Tarzan, as was his custom, prosecuted his search in the direction of the cabin. Kala, busily engaged, had moved slowly east, when the faintest shadow of a strange noise brought her to startled attention.

Down the leafy trail she saw the stealthily advancing figure of a strange and fearsome creature. It was Kulonga. Kala moved rapidly back along the trail, seeking rather to avoid than to escape. Close after her came Kulonga. Here was meat! He could kill and feast well! His spear poised for the throw.

The spear sped toward Kala. It but grazed her side! With a cry of rage and pain, the she-ape turned and charged. Instantly the trees crashed beneath her hurrying fellows—swinging rapidly to Kala's scream. Kulonga fitted a poisoned arrow, and drove it straight into the heart of the great anthropoid.

With a horrible scream, Kala plunged forward upon her face before the astonished members of her tribe. Roaring and shrieking, the apes dashed toward Kulonga, who fled down the trail. None had ever seen a man before other than Tarzan, so they wondered what strange creature had invaded their jungle.

Tarzan heard. He knew something was amiss. He found the entire tribe gathered jabbering about the dead body of his foster-mother. His grief and anger were unbounded. He roared out his hideous challenge, beat his breast, and then fell upon the body of Kala, sobbing out his lonely heart.

After the first outburst of grief, Tarzan controlled himself and questioned the tribe concerning the killing of Kala. They told him of a strange hairless black ape with feathers on its head, who launched death from a slender branch—then fled with the fleetness of Bara-the-deer toward the setting sun.

It was enough. Tarzan sped rapidly to intercept the black warrior. He took his knife and rope. He struck the trail and in the mud he found footprints such as his own—but larger. His heart beat fast! Could it be that he was trailing a MAN? One of his own race?

Soon he came upon the black warrior. Tarzan looked with wonder. Horta, the boar, was charging and Kulonga shot a little poisoned arrow. Horta staggered and lay still. Kulonga cut several long pieces from the boar's body, built a fire, and ate as much as he wanted, leaving the rest.

Tarzan was an interested spectator. He decided to follow further this savage creature, killing him at his leisure. When Kulonga departed, Tarzan of the Apes dropped and severed several pieces—but didn't cook them. He knew not the use of fire. So he gobbled down a lot of the raw flesh.

And then Tarzan, Lord Greystoke, wiped his greasy fingers upon his naked thighs and took up the trail of Kulonga. In far-off London another Lord Greystoke—Tarzan's uncle—sent back his chops to the Club's chef because they were underdone, and when he finished, dried his hands on snowy damask!

All day Tarzan followed Kulonga. Twice more he saw him hurl his arrows of destruction. Tarzan thought much on this wondrous method of slaying. He must look into the matter. That night Kulonga slept in the crotch of a mighty tree, and far above him crouched Tarzan of the Apes.

When Kulonga awoke he found that his bow and arrows had disappeared. The black warrior was panic-stricken. He was defenseless except for a single knife. Now his only hope lay in quickly reaching his village. He took the trail at a rapid trot. Tarzan followed quietly in his wake.

He was almost ready for the kill, but he was anxious to ascertain the black warrior's destination. Presently he saw it. As Kulonga emerged from the jungle a slender coiled rope sped above him. A quick noose tightened about his neck. Then Tarzan drew the threshing victim up into the sheltering tree.

Tarzan fastened the rope securely to a sharp branch. Then, descending, he plunged his hunting-knife into Kulonga's heart. Kala was avenged! He examined the black minutely—never had he seen another human being. He admired the tattooing, the sharp filed teeth. On himself he put the feathered head-dress, copper anklet, belt, and knife.

Tarzan of the Apes was ravenously hungry. Here was meat, which jungle ethics permitted him to eat. His knife was poised to dismember Kulonga. Suddenly a strange doubt stayed his hand. He never before hesitated to eat of his kill, but was not this a man? Did men eat men?

Tarzan's instinct overcame his cannibalistic impulse. He lowered Kulonga's body and viewed the savage village, wondering over many features of this new, strange life. A woman directly beneath him stood over a small caldron, dipping arrows into a seething substance. He knew that this was the deadly stuff that killed.

Tarzan wanted some of those little death-dealing slivers. He heard a wild cry from across the clearing, and saw an excited black warrior standing beneath the tree in which he had killed Kulonga, the murderer of his ape-mother, Kala. The fellow was shouting, waving his spear and pointing.

The village was in on uproar instantly. Armed men raced madly toward the excited sentry. Tarzan of the Apes knew they had found the body of his victim. Quickly he dropped into the now deserted village and gathered some arrows. Entering a near-by hut, he saw many weapons and skulls!

Tarzan made a pile of the hideous skulls. On the top skull he fastened the head-dress of Kulonga, the chief's dead son. Then he heard a mighty wailing and long, mournful howls. Quickly he disappeared into the foliage above, kicking over the seething caldron, after securing a supply of poisonous arrows.

The natives filed up the street bearing Kulonga's body, taking it to the very hut in which Tarzan wrought his depredations. They came out in wild jabbering confusion. The awesome discoveries filled their hearts with terror. They conjured in their poor brains only the most frightful of superstitious explanations.

It was a well-laden Tarzan who dropped into the midst of Kerchak's tribe. With swelling chest he narrated the glories of his adventures and exhibited the spoils of conquest. Kerchak was jealous of this strange member of his tribe. He sought some excuse to wreak his hatred upon Tarzan.

A month Tarzan practiced with his bow and arrows. During this time he further investigated the cabin, and found the metal box containing his father's diary, some photographs, and a diamond locket. This took his fancy. He placed it about his neck, in imitation of the black men he had visited.

When his arrows were gone, Tarzan renewed the supply, repeating his former pranks while the natives were enjoying a cannibal feast. They were filled with fear at this new manifestation of some unseen, unearthly evil power. Returning homeward, Tarzan encountered Sabor, the lioness, and sent an arrow into her.

Removing the great pelt, he hastened to the tribe, who gathered to see this new proof of his wondrous prowess. Only Kerchak hung back—nursing his hatred and rage. Suddenly something snapped in Kerchak's brain. He sprang biting and killing among the assembly. "Come down, Tarzan," he cried, "come and fight!"

Breathlessly the tribe watched as Kerchak, roaring, charged the relatively puny figure. Tarzan tore loose his knife and drove it into Kerchak—below the heart! They struggled along. Then the great body shuddered, stiffened—sank limply. Kerchak was dead. Thus came the young Lord Greystoke into the KINGSHIP OF THE APES.

The apes were more than content with Tarzan as their new king. Food was more plentiful. He settled all their disputes wisely. Next he moved the tribe inland to a place undefiled by the foot of a human being. But he spent more and more time away from the tribe.

He tired of the kingship and longed for the little cabin and the sun-kissed sea. As he had grown older, he found his interests were different from those of the tribe. He now preferred the peace and solitude of the cabin to his leadership duties among the band of wild apes.

He had still one enemy. Before he renounced his kingship of the apes, Tarzan wished to subdue the ugly Terkoz without recourse to knife or arrows. Terkoz one day offended the tribal laws by beating an old female and defying Tarzan's command to stop. So came they to that well-remembered fight!

Never had the ape-man fought so terrible a battle since that day when Bolgani, the king gorilla, had so horribly mangled him. But he won, though he did not kill his enemy. This time he spared, after forcing Terkoz to cry: "Ka-goda," meaning, "I surrender!" And all the tribe heard—and marveled.

Tarzan let him up. Before darkness settled he called the old males about him. "Tarzan," he said, "is going back to the lair of his own people. You must choose another ruler. Tarzan will not return." Thus he started toward his goal, the finding of other white men like himself.

Many days it was before Tarzan recovered from his victorious battle with Terkoz, the rebellious bull-ape. And then, one day, he had another encounter with three of the natives, emerging victor, taking their weapons, ornaments, and wondrous finery. The natives, now thoroughly frightened, believed him some unseen, terrible god.

"Munango-Keewati," they called him, the evil spirit of the jungle, believing that those who looked upon him died. So the king ordered arrows and food to be placed just without the village to appease him. As long as they supplied him with these, they thought, he would not harm them.

Tarzan was returning to the cabin. When he came in sight of the beach, a strange and unusual spectacle met his vision. On the placid waters of the land-locked harbor floated a great ship, and on the beach a small boat was drawn up. And men—like himself—were moving about!

He crept closer, saw ten men talking loudly, gesticulating, shaking their fists. Presently a little man laid his hand upon the shoulder of a giant next him, pointing inland. As the big man turned to look, the mean-faced one shot him in the back, tumbling him forward—dead!

The report of the weapon, the first Tarzan had ever heard, filled him with wonderment. Were such white men his brothers? Presently the men launched the boat, jumped into it and rowed away toward the great ship. Then Tarzan slipped back to the cabin. Everything had been ransacked!

Tarzan saw his books and weapons strewn on the floor; his little store of treasures littered about. A great wave of anger surged through him. Ah—but the men had not found his tin box with its precious contents!... What was that?... His quick ear had caught a faint but unfamiliar sound.

He ran to the window, looking toward the harbor. He saw a boat being lowered from the great ship beside the one already in the water. Soon he saw many people clambering over the ship's sides and dropping into the boats. They were coming back in full force!

He watched bundles and boxes being lowered. As they shoved off, the ape-man snatched up a piece of paper and with a pencil printed several lines of strong well-made characters. This notice he stuck upon the door with a sharp wood splinter. Then gathering his precious box and weapons he disappeared into the forest.

Fifteen villainous-appearing seamen landed from the boats. Blood-thirsty and filthy they looked. The five others comprised two elderly men—evidently scholars—a handsome young man in white ducks, a huge negress, and a very beautiful girl of about nineteen. In silence the party advanced toward the cabin.

The sailors carried the boxes and bales followed by the five of so different a class. Coming to the cabin, they saw with puzzled surprise the new-made sign. Few of the sailors could read. "Hi, perfesser," one shouted, "read the bloomin' notis." The old gentleman addressed, read, and murmured, "Most remarkable!"

A sailor grasped him by the collar and bawled into his ear: "Read it out loud, you blithering idiot!" The professor read: THIS IS THE HOUSE OF TARZAN THE KILLER OF BEASTS AND MANY BLACK MEN. DO NOT HARM THE THINGS WHICH ARE TARZAN'S. TARZAN WATCHES. TARZAN OF THE APES.

The thought uppermost in their minds was: "Who is Tarzan of the Apes?" The rat-faced sailor growled out an insulting oath! The young man's face paled in anger. "You've murdered our officer and robbed us," he said. "Now shut up or I'll break your neck with my bare hands."

He deliberately turned his back upon the sailor and walked away. The sailor's hand crept slyly to his revolver. His eyes glared vengefully.... Two keen eyes had watched every move of the party from a near-by tree. Tarzan saw the surprise caused by his notice and now watched the quarrel.

The act of the rat-faced sailor in killing his comrade, the day before, had aroused a strong dislike in Tarzan. He liked the fine-looking young man. But now he naturally expected to see the young man murdered. Spear in hand, his mighty arm was ready to strike.

Then three things happened almost simultaneously. The sailor leveled his weapon at the young man's back, the girl screamed a warning, and a long spear shot like a bolt from above. It passed through the man's right shoulder, and the seaman crumpled up with a scream of pain and terror.

The sailors stood in a frightened group, with drawn revolvers. The wounded man writhed and shrieked upon the ground. The young man, whose name was Clayton, picked up the fallen revolver. Jane, the girl, ran to him. "Who could it have been?" she whispered. Meanwhile her father and his scholarly companion had wandered into the primeval jungle.

"I daresay Tarzan of the Apes is watching us all right!" Clayton answered. "Go into the cabin while I go in search of your father." He gave Jane his revolver and when he saw the door close safely behind Jane and her servant, Esmeralda, he strode into the dense jungle.

When Jane and Esmeralda found themselves safely behind the cabin door, the negress's first thought was to barricade the portal from within. She turned to search for some means to do it. With her first look, she gave a shriek of terror, running to her mistress like a frightened child.

Jane saw the cause of her cry! Lying prone upon the floor beside them was the whitened skeleton of a man. A further glance revealed the second skeleton upon the bed. And then the tiny skeleton in the cradle! "What horrible place are we in?" murmured the awe-struck girl. Esmeralda trembled.

What might lie before them in this ill-fated cabin? She endeavored to shake off the gloomy forebodings. She bade Esmeralda cease her wailings, and the two of them barred the heavy door. Then they sat down upon a bench, their arms about one another, two thoroughly frightened women, and waited.

Meanwhile, the cowardly crew of the "Arrow" pulled rapidly for the ship. Tarzan watched. The most wonderful sight of all to him was the face of the beautiful white girl. Here at last was one of his own kind. He decided to follow young Clayton and learn his errand.

Presently Tarzan came up with him. Clayton was lost. At intervals he called aloud. Tarzan decided he was searching for the old man. Suddenly Tarzan caught the yellow glint of a sleek hide moving cautiously toward the unsuspecting young man. It was Sheeta, the leopard, crouching for the spring!

And then, shrill and horrible, there rose upon the jungle stillness the awful cry of the challenging ape. Sheeta hesitated, then turned, crashing into the underbrush. Clayton's blood ran cold—he felt the icy fingers of fear upon his heart. Never had so fearful a sound smote upon his ears.

Clayton could not know that to that very voice he owed his life nor that the creature who hurled it forth was his own cousin—the real Lord Greystoke. He started stumbling back to where he thought the cabin lay. Darkness was quickly setting in. Heavens!—to die here alone!

Presently he heard a faint sound. Then he saw it! The lithe body of a huge lion. Agonized he watched—powerless to fly. Came a noise above him, an arrow hit the beast, who sprang in pain and terror. Then a naked giant dropped from the tree above—squarely on the brute's back!

The scene Clayton witnessed there in the twilight depths of the African jungle was burned forever into the Englishman's brain. The giant man before him encircled the lion with his powerful right arm while with his left hand he plunged a knife time and again into the beast's unprotected side.

It was all accomplished quickly. The lion sank lifeless. Then the strange figure that had vanquished it stood erect upon the carcass, and throwing back the wild and handsome head, gave out the fearsome cry that a few minutes earlier had so startled Clayton. Then he gathered up his weapons.

Clayton spoke to the stranger in English, thanking him. The only answer was a steady stare and a shrug of the mighty shoulders. Tarzan drew his knife, deftly carving a dozen strips from the lion's carcass. Then squatting upon his haunches, he proceeded to eat, motioning Clayton to join him.

Clayton could not bring himself to share the uncooked meat his strange host was so apparently relishing. Again he essayed speech with the ape-man, who replied in a strange tongue, like monkeys chattering. Then he arose, motioning Clayton to follow him. Bewildered and confused, Clayton hesitated to do so.

The ape-man, seeing Clayton disinclined to follow, grasped him by the coat, dragging him along for a while. The Englishman concluded he was a prisoner. Thus they traveled into the impenetrable forest amid wild calls of savage life and falling night. Suddenly there came a faint report—a single shot—then silence.

In the cabin by the beach two thoroughly terrified women crouched. The negress sobbed hysterically. The white girl, dry-eyed, was torn by fears and forebodings. They heard the almost incessant roars from the savage jungle. And now there came the sound of a heavy body brushing against the cabin's side!

Silence—then she distinctly heard an animal outside, sniffing at the door. They shuddered instinctively. A gentle scratching—the beast was trying to force an entrance. Now, silhouetted against the moonlit sky beyond, Jane saw the head of a huge lioness, its gleaming eyes fastened upon her in intent ferocity.

For twenty minutes the huge brute alternately sniffed and tore at the door. Then she launched her great weight against the timeworn window lattice. They saw a portion of it give way. Esmeralda fainted. The horrified prisoner within beheld one great paw ... then its head thrust within the room.

Slowly the powerful neck and shoulders spread the bars apart.... The girl rose as in a trance, seeking with ever-increasing terror some loophole of escape.... Suddenly her hand, tight pressed against her bosom, felt the outline of Clayton's revolver. Quickly she leveled it ... and pulled the trigger.

There was a flash of flame, a roar of pain. This was the shot heard by Tarzan and Clayton. Then Jane, too, fainted. But Sabor was not killed. She saw her prey resistless. Slowly she forced her great bulk through the opening. On this sight Jane again opened her eyes!

When Clayton heard the shot, he became agonized with fear and apprehension. He knew Jane was threatened with some danger. Tarzan heard also and quickened his pace. Soon Clayton was left hopelessly behind. He called aloud to the ape-man. Tarzan dropped lightly to his side from the branches above.

Stooping down before Clayton, Tarzan motioned him to grasp him about the neck, and with the white man upon his back, took to the trees. The next few minutes were such as the Englishman never forgot. High into swaying branches he was borne with what seemed to him incredible swiftness.

From one lofty branch the agile creature swung with Clayton through a dizzy arc to a neighboring tree; then for a hundred yards maybe, the sure feet threaded a maze of interwoven limbs, balancing like a tight-rope-walker high above the black depths. How Clayton admired those giant muscles!

Clayton fairly caught his breath at the sight of the horrid depths below them. Yet, with all his seeming speed, Tarzan was actually feeling his way with comparative slowness, searching constantly for limbs of adequate strength to hold this double weight. Presently they came to the clearing before the beach.

Tarzan's quick ears had heard the strange sounds of the lioness's efforts to force the cabin. They dropped a hundred feet—landing with scarcely a jar. The ape-man darted ahead, just in time to see the huge lioness's tawny body slowly disappearing through the window of the cabin!

Within the cabin Jane saw the lioness almost through the window. She reached for the fallen revolver. Raised it. Then she saw Esmeralda, inert but alive. She could not leave her. She must use one cartridge on the senseless woman before she turned the cold muzzle toward herself again.

Quickly Jane ran to the side of Esmeralda. She pressed the muzzle of the revolver tight against that devoted heart, closed her eyes, and—Sabor, the lioness, emitted a frightful shriek. The girl, startled, recoiled and turned to face the brute, again raising the weapon against her own temple.

She didn't fire again. Surprised, she saw the huge animal being drawn slowly back through the window and in the moonlight the heads of two men. Tarzan had seized the long tail in both his hands, braced himself, and thrown all his mighty strength into the effort to draw the beast back.

Slowly the lioness was emerging from the window. Tarzan, suddenly releasing his hold upon her, sprang full upon her back. Tighter his strong young arms forced her head lower and lower. The immense muscles of Tarzan's shoulders and biceps leaped into corded knots—a super-human effort—and Sabor's vertebrae snapped!

Instantly Tarzan was on his feet. For the second time Clayton heard Tarzan give the bull-ape's savage roar of victory. He ran toward Jane's agonized cry. Calming her fears, they came out to the dead body of the lioness, to thank their rescuer. But Tarzan of the Apes was gone.

Tarzan went in search of Jane's father. Finally he found the old man, and the professor, brought them safely to the cabin, and again vanished into the jungle. Esmeralda "came to" at the lioness's last shriek. The reunited party of castaways related their experiences and talked long of the mysterious ape-man.

When it grew light, they ate of their scanty store of food. They decided to bury the skeletons. The professor discovered they were those of white people. On the man's finger he found a massive ring. Clayton gave a cry of astonishment!... It bore the crest of the house of Greystoke.

And then Jane in a book saw the single name: Greystoke. Thus they identified the skeletons and with deep reverence buried them. The professor had noted that the infant's bones were not a human's. He murmured "Most remarkable," but said nothing. From the trees Tarzan of the Apes watched the solemn ceremony.

Most of all he watched the sweet face and graceful figure of Jane. He knew that she was created to be protected and that he was created to protect her. Esmeralda chanced to glance toward the harbor. She cried out, pointing to the "Arrow" slowly sailing seaward!

Now they knew they were deserted—marooned by merciless sailors on this jungle shore. Tarzan saw their consternation; also the departure of the ship. He swung through the trees to see closely this strange floating house. Presently his keen eyes saw the faintest suspicion of smoke on the horizon.

The sailors also saw that smoke. The ship came about and headed for land. There was a great scurrying about on deck. A boat was lowered; in it a great chest was placed. Men bent to the oars; pulled rapidly to the very point where Tarzan crouched, hidden in a tree.

Beaching the boat, the men lifted out the great chest. They argued angrily—they quarreled, and a sailor buried his pick in the brain of the rat-faced man. Digging a deep trench, they buried the treasure with the corpse, obliterating all signs. Then they pulled rapidly back to the "Arrow."

The smoke on the horizon increased, and the sailors lost no time in getting under full sail. Tarzan, an interested spectator, sat speculating on the strange actions. He wondered what the chest contained. Dropping to the ground he found a spade and began digging until he uncovered the body.

He dragged it from the grave, then unearthed the chest, replacing the body and the earth. Four sailors had sweated beneath the burden of that chest. Tarzan of the Apes picked it up easily and carried it into the densest part of the jungle. He traveled for several hours.

His brain told him the chest contained valuables. He desired to open it, but the iron lock and bands baffled even his strength. So he buried it. Darkness settled before he was back in the cabin's vicinity. Astonished, he saw the interior of the cabin appear as bright as day.