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Tarzan halted just before he reached the shes of the outer circle. "I am Tarzan of
the Apes!" he cried. "You do not know me because I am of another tribe, but
Tarzan comes in peace or he comes to fight--which shall it be? Tarzan will talk
with your king," and so saying he pushed straight forward through the shes and
the young who now gave way before him, making a narrow lane through which he
passed toward the inner circle.
Shes and balus growled and bristled as he passed closer, but none hindered him
and thus he came to the inner circle of bulls. Here bared fangs menaced him and
growling faces hideously contorted. "I am Tarzan," he repeated. "Tarzan comes to
dance the Dum-Dum with his brothers. Where is your king?" Again he pressed
forward and the girl in the tree clapped her palms to her cheeks as she watched,
wide-eyed, this madman going to a frightful death. In another instant they would
be upon him, rending and tearing until that perfect form had been ripped to
shreds; but again the ring parted, and though the apes roared and menaced him
they did not attack, and at last he stood in the inner circle close to the drum and
faced the great king ape.
Again he spoke. "I am Tarzan of the Apes," he cried. "Tarzan comes to live with
his brothers. He will come in peace and live in peace or he will kill; but he has
come and he will stay. Which--shall Tarzan dance the Dum-Dum in peace with
his brothers, or shall Tarzan kill first?"
"I am Go-lat, King of the Apes," screamed the great bull. "I kill! I kill! I kill!" and
with a sullen roar he charged the Tarmangani.
The ape-man, as the girl watched him, seemed entirely unprepared for the charge
and she looked to see him borne down and slain at the first rush. The great bull
was almost upon him with huge hands outstretched to seize him before Tarzan
made a move, but when he did move his quickness would have put Ara, the
lightning, to shame. As darts forward the head of Histah, the snake, so darted
forward the left hand of the man-beast as he seized the left wrist of his
antagonist. A quick turn and the bull's right arm was locked beneath the right
arm of his foe in a jujutsu hold that Tarzan had learned among civilized men--a
hold with which he might easily break the great bones, a hold that left the ape
helpless.
"
I am Tarzan of the Apes!" screamed the ape-man. "Shall Tarzan dance in peace
or shall Tarzan kill?''
"I kill! I kill! I kill!" shrieked Go-lat.
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