| 104 | 105 | 106 | 107 | 108 |
| 1 | 61 | 121 | 182 | 242 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
intention of initiating an attack and then Zu-tag told Go-lat what he had seen
among the lairs of the Gomangani.
Go-lat grunted in disgust and turned away. "Let the white ape take care of
himself," he said.
"
He is a great ape," said Zu-tag. "He came to live in peace with the tribe of Go-lat.
Let us save him from the Gomangani."
Go-lat grunted again and continued to move away.
"Zu-tag will go alone and get him," cried the young ape, "if Go-lat is afraid of the
Gomangani."
The king ape wheeled in anger, growling loudly and beating upon his breast. "Go-
lat is not afraid," he screamed, "but he will not go, for the white ape is not of his
tribe. Go yourself and take the Tarmangani's she with you if you wish so much to
save the white ape."
"Zu-tag will go," replied the younger bull, "and he will take the Tarmangani's she
and all the bulls of Go-lat who are not cowards," and so saying he cast his eyes
inquiringly about at the other apes. "Who will go with Zu-tag to fight the
Gomangani and bring away our brother," he demanded.
Eight young bulls in the full prime of their vigor pressed forward to Zu-tag's side,
but the old bulls with the conservatism and caution of many years upon their
gray shoulders, shook their heads and waddled away after Go-lat.
"
Good," cried Zu-tag. "We want no old shes to go with us to fight the Gomangani
for that is work for the fighters of the tribe."
The old bulls paid no attention to his boastful words, but the eight who had
volunteered to accompany him were filled with self-pride so that they stood
around vaingloriously beating upon their breasts, baring their fangs and
screaming their hideous challenge until the jungle reverberated to the horrid
sound.
All this time Bertha Kircher was a wide-eyed and terrified spectator to what, as
she thought, could end only in a terrific battle between these frightful beasts, and
when Zu-tag and his followers began screaming forth their fearsome challenge,
the girl found herself trembling in terror, for of all the sounds of the jungle there
is none more awe inspiring than that of the great bull ape when he issues his
challenge or shrieks forth his victory cry.
106
Page
Quick Jump
|