Jungle Tales of Tarzan | Page 9

an evil-natured brute of an exceeding short temper.
When something thwarted him, his sole idea was to overcome it by
brute strength and ferocity, and so now when he found his way blocked,
he tore angrily into the leafy screen and an instant later found himself
within a strange lair, his progress effectually blocked, notwithstanding
his most violent efforts to forge ahead.
Biting and striking at the barrier, Taug finally worked himself into a
frightful rage, but all to no avail; and at last he became convinced that
he must turn back. But when he would have done so, what was his
chagrin to discover that another barrier had dropped behind him while
he fought to break down the one before him! Taug was trapped. Until
exhaustion overcame him he fought frantically for his freedom; but all
for naught.
In the morning a party of blacks set out from the village of Mbonga in
the direction of the trap they had constructed the previous day, while
among the branches of the trees above them hovered a naked young

giant filled with the curiosity of the wild things. Manu, the monkey,
chattered and scolded as Tarzan passed, and though he was not afraid
of the familiar figure of the ape-boy, he hugged closer to him the little
brown body of his life's companion. Tarzan laughed as he saw it; but
the laugh was followed by a sudden clouding of his face and a deep
sigh.
A little farther on, a gaily feathered bird strutted about before the
admiring eyes of his somber-hued mate. It seemed to Tarzan that
everything in the jungle was combining to remind him that he had lost
Teeka; yet every day of his life he had seen these same things and
thought nothing of them.
When the blacks reached the trap, Taug set up a great commotion.
Seizing the bars of his prison, he shook them frantically, and all the
while he roared and growled terrifically. The blacks were elated, for
while they had not built their trap for this hairy tree man, they were
delighted with their catch.
Tarzan pricked up his ears when he heard the voice of a great ape and,
circling quickly until he was down wind from the trap, he sniffed at the
air in search of the scent spoor of the prisoner. Nor was it long before
there came to those delicate nostrils the familiar odor that told Tarzan
the identity of the captive as unerringly as though he had looked upon
Taug with his eyes. Yes, it was Taug, and he was alone.
Tarzan grinned as he approached to discover what the blacks would do
to their prisoner. Doubtless they would slay him at once. Again Tarzan
grinned. Now he could have Teeka for his own, with none to dispute
his right to her. As he watched, he saw the black warriors strip the
screen from about the cage, fasten ropes to it and drag it away along the
trail in the direction of their village.
Tarzan watched until his rival passed out of sight, still beating upon the
bars of his prison and growling out his anger and his threats. Then the
ape-boy turned and swung rapidly off in search of the tribe, and Teeka.
Once, upon the journey, he surprised Sheeta and his family in a little

overgrown clearing. The great cat lay stretched upon the ground, while
his mate, one paw across her lord's savage face, licked at the soft white
fur at his throat.
Tarzan increased his speed then until he fairly flew through the forest,
nor was it long before he came upon the tribe. He saw them before they
saw him, for of all the jungle creatures, none passed more quietly than
Tarzan of the Apes. He saw Kamma and her mate feeding side by side,
their hairy bodies rubbing against each other. And he saw Teeka
feeding by herself. Not for long would she feed thus in loneliness,
thought Tarzan, as with a bound he landed amongst them.
There was a startled rush and a chorus of angry and frightened snarls,
for Tarzan had surprised them; but there was more, too, than mere
nervous shock to account for the bristling neck hair which remained
standing long after the apes had discovered the identity of the
newcomer.
Tarzan noticed this as he had noticed it many times in the past--that
always his sudden coming among them left them nervous and unstrung
for a considerable time, and that they one and all found it necessary to
satisfy themselves that he was indeed Tarzan by smelling about him a
half dozen or more times before they calmed down.
Pushing through them, he made his way toward Teeka; but as he
approached her the ape drew away.
"Teeka," he