Tarzan the Terrible | Page 9

upon the creature that they were of different
species.
The fellow shook his head dubiously as though entirely unable to comprehend why
Tarzan should differ so from him but at last, apparently giving the problem up with a
shrug, he laid aside his own harness, skin, and weapons and entered the pool.
His ablutions completed and his meager apparel redonned he seated himself at the foot of
the tree and motioning Tarzan to a place beside him, opened the pouch that hung at his
right side taking from it strips of dried flesh and a couple of handfuls of thin-shelled nuts

with which Tarzan was unfamiliar. Seeing the other break them with his teeth and eat the
kernel, Tarzan followed the example thus set him, discovering the meat to be rich and
well flavored. The dried flesh also was far from unpalatable, though it had evidently been
jerked without salt, a commodity which Tarzan imagined might be rather difficult to
obtain in this locality.
As they ate Tarzan's companion pointed to the nuts, the dried meat, and various other
nearby objects, in each instance repeating what Tarzan readily discovered must be the
names of these things in the creature's native language. The ape-man could but smile at
this evident desire upon the part of his new-found acquaintance to impart to him
instructions that eventually might lead to an exchange of thoughts between them. Having
already mastered several languages and a multitude of dialects the ape-man felt that he
could readily assimilate another even though this appeared one entirely unrelated to any
with which he was familiar.
So occupied were they with their breakfast and the lesson that neither was aware of the
beady eyes glittering down upon them from above; nor was Tarzan cognizant of any
impending danger until the instant that a huge, hairy body leaped full upon his
companion from the branches above them.

2
"To the Death!"

In the moment of discovery Tarzan saw that the creature was almost a counterpart of his
companion in size and conformation, with the exception that his body was entirely
clothed with a coat of shaggy black hair which almost concealed his features, while his
harness and weapons were similar to those of the creature he had attacked. Ere Tarzan
could prevent the creature had struck the ape-man's companion a blow upon the head
with his knotted club that felled him, unconscious, to the earth; but before he could inflict
further injury upon his defenseless prey the ape-man had closed with him.
Instantly Tarzan realized that he was locked with a creature of almost superhuman
strength. The sinewy fingers of a powerful hand sought his throat while the other lifted
the bludgeon above his head. But if the strength of the hairy attacker was great, great too
was that of his smooth-skinned antagonist. Swinging a single terrific blow with clenched
fist to the point of the other's chin, Tarzan momentarily staggered his assailant and then
his own fingers closed upon the shaggy throat, as with the other hand he seized the wrist
of the arm that swung the club. With equal celerity he shot his right leg behind the shaggy
brute and throwing his weight forward hurled the thing over his hip heavily to the ground,
at the same time precipitating his own body upon the other's chest.
With the shock of the impact the club fell from the brute's hand and Tarzan's hold was
wrenched from its throat. Instantly the two were locked in a deathlike embrace. Though
the creature bit at Tarzan the latter was quickly aware that this was not a particularly

formidable method of offense or defense, since its canines were scarcely more developed
than his own. The thing that he had principally to guard against was the sinuous tail
which sought steadily to wrap itself about his throat and against which experience had
afforded him no defense.
Struggling and snarling the two rolled growling about the sward at the foot of the tree,
first one on top and then the other but each more occupied at present in defending his
throat from the other's choking grasp than in aggressive, offensive tactics. But presently
the ape-man saw his opportunity and as they rolled about he forced the creature closer
and closer to the pool, upon the banks of which the battle was progressing. At last they
lay upon the very verge of the water and now it remained for Tarzan to precipitate them
both beneath the surface but in such a way that he might remain on top.
At the same instant there came within range of Tarzan's vision, just behind the prostrate
form of his companion, the crouching, devil-faced figure of the striped saber-tooth hybrid,
eyeing him with snarling, malevolent face.
Almost simultaneously Tarzan's shaggy antagonist