“King of the Apes”

           Itwasnotyetdarkwhenhereachedthetribe,thoughhestoppedtoexhumeanddevourtheremainsofthewildboarhehadcachedtheprecedingday,andagaintotakeKulonga’sbowandarrowsfromthetreetopinwhichhehadhiddenthem.

           Itwasawell-ladenTarzanwhodroppedfromthebranchesintothemidstofthetribeofKerchak.

           Withswellingchesthenarratedthegloriesofhisadventureandexhibitedthespoilsofconquest.

           Kerchakgruntedandturnedaway,forhewasjealousofthisstrangememberofhisband.InhislittleevilbrainhesoughtforsomeexcusetowreakhishatreduponTarzan.

           ThenextdayTarzanwaspracticingwithhisbowandarrowsatthefirstgleamofdawn.Atfirsthelostnearlyeveryboltheshot,butfinallyhelearnedtoguidethelittleshaftswithfairaccuracy,andereamonthhadpassedhewasnomeanshot;buthisproficiencyhadcosthimnearlyhisentiresupplyofarrows.

           Thetribecontinuedtofindthehuntinggoodinthevicinityofthebeach,andsoTarzanoftheApesvariedhisarcherypracticewithfurtherinvestigationofhisfather’schoicethoughlittlestoreofbooks.

           ItwasduringthisperiodthattheyoungEnglishlordfoundhiddeninthebackofoneofthecupboardsinthecabinasmallmetalbox.Thekeywasinthelock,andafewmomentsofinvestigationandexperimentationwererewardedwiththesuccessfulopeningofthereceptacle.