The Fear-Phantom

           FromaloftyperchTarzanviewedthevillageofthatchedhutsacrosstheinterveningplantation.

           Hesawthatatonepointtheforesttouchedthevillage,andtothisspothemadehisway,luredbyafeverofcuriositytobeholdanimalsofhisownkind,andtolearnmoreoftheirwaysandviewthestrangelairsinwhichtheylived.

           Hissavagelifeamongthefiercewildbrutesofthejungleleftnoopeningforanythoughtthatthesecouldbeaughtelsethanenemies.Similarityofformledhimintonoerroneousconceptionofthewelcomethatwouldbeaccordedhimshouldhebediscoveredbythese,thefirstofhisownkindhehadeverseen.

           TarzanoftheApeswasnosentimentalist.Heknewnothingofthebrotherhoodofman.Allthingsoutsidehisowntribewerehisdeadlyenemies,withthefewexceptionsofwhichTantor,theelephant,wasamarkedexample.

           Andherealizedallthiswithoutmaliceorhatred.Tokillwasthelawofthewildworldheknew.Fewwerehisprimitivepleasures,butthegreatestofthesewastohuntandkill,andsoheaccordedtootherstherighttocherishthesamedesiresashe,eventhoughhehimselfmightbetheobjectoftheirhunt.

           Hisstrangelifehadlefthimneithermorosenorbloodthirsty.Thathejoyedinkilling,andthathekilledwithajoyouslaughuponhishandsomelipsbetokenednoinnatecruelty.