Jungle Tales of Tarzan | Page 7

traits. Teeka was frightened. She screamed at
the bulls to hasten to Tarzan's assistance; but the bulls were otherwise
engaged--principally in giving advice and making faces. Anyway,
Tarzan was not a real Mangani, so why should they risk their lives in
an effort to protect him?
And now Sheeta was almost upon the lithe, naked body, and--the body
was not there. Quick as was the great cat, the ape-boy was quicker. He
leaped to one side almost as the panther's talons were closing upon him,
and as Sheeta went hurtling to the ground beyond, Tarzan was racing
for the safety of the nearest tree.
The panther recovered himself almost immediately and, wheeling, tore
after his prey, the ape-boy's rope dragging along the ground behind him.
In doubling back after Tarzan, Sheeta had passed around a low bush. It
was a mere nothing in the path of any jungle creature of the size and
weight of Sheeta--provided it had no trailing rope dangling behind. But
Sheeta was handicapped by such a rope, and as he leaped once again
after Tarzan of the Apes the rope encircled the small bush, became
tangled in it and brought the panther to a sudden stop. An instant later
Tarzan was safe among the higher branches of a small tree into which
Sheeta could not follow him.
Here he perched, hurling twigs and epithets at the raging feline beneath
him. The other members of the tribe now took up the bombardment,
using such hard-shelled fruits and dead branches as came within their
reach, until Sheeta, goaded to frenzy and snapping at the grass rope,
finally succeeded in severing its strands. For a moment the panther
stood glaring first at one of his tormentors and then at another, until,
with a final scream of rage, he turned and slunk off into the tangled
mazes of the jungle.
A half hour later the tribe was again upon the ground, feeding as
though naught had occurred to interrupt the somber dullness of their
lives. Tarzan had recovered the greater part of his rope and was busy
fashioning a new noose, while Teeka squatted close behind him, in
evident token that her choice was made.

Taug eyed them sullenly. Once when he came close, Teeka bared her
fangs and growled at him, and Tarzan showed his canines in an ugly
snarl; but Taug did not provoke a quarrel. He seemed to accept after the
manner of his kind the decision of the she as an indication that he had
been vanquished in his battle for her favors.
Later in the day, his rope repaired, Tarzan took to the trees in search of
game. More than his fellows he required meat, and so, while they were
satisfied with fruits and herbs and beetles, which could be discovered
without much effort upon their part, Tarzan spent considerable time
hunting the game animals whose flesh alone satisfied the cravings of
his stomach and furnished sustenance and strength to the mighty thews
which, day by day, were building beneath the soft, smooth texture of
his brown hide.
Taug saw him depart, and then, quite casually, the big beast hunted
closer and closer to Teeka in his search for food. At last he was within
a few feet of her, and when he shot a covert glance at her he saw that
she was appraising him and that there was no evidence of anger upon
her face.
Taug expanded his great chest and rolled about on his short legs,
making strange growlings in his throat. He raised his lips, baring his
fangs. My, but what great, beautiful fangs he had! Teeka could not but
notice them. She also let her eyes rest in admiration upon Taug's
beetling brows and his short, powerful neck. What a beautiful creature
he was indeed!
Taug, flattered by the unconcealed admiration in her eyes, strutted
about, as proud and as vain as a peacock. Presently he began to
inventory his assets, mentally, and shortly he found himself comparing
them with those of his rival.
Taug grunted, for there was no comparison. How could one compare
his beautiful coat with the smooth and naked hideousness of Tarzan's
bare hide? Who could see beauty in the stingy nose of the Tarmangani
after looking at Taug's broad nostrils? And Tarzan's eyes! Hideous
things, showing white about them, and entirely unrimmed with red.

Taug knew that his own blood-shot eyes were beautiful, for he had seen
them reflected in the glassy surface of many a drinking pool.
The bull drew nearer to Teeka, finally squatting close against her.
When Tarzan returned from his hunting a short time later it was to see
Teeka contentedly scratching the back of his rival.
Tarzan was disgusted. Neither Taug nor Teeka saw him as he swung
through the trees into