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Chapter 10 - The Swede
As the warriors, clustered thick about Tarzan and Sheeta, realized that it was a
flesh-and-blood panther that had interrupted their dance of death, they took
heart a trifle, for in the face of all those circling spears even the mighty Sheeta
would be doomed.
Rokoff was urging the chief to have his spearmen launch their missiles, and the
black was upon the instant of issuing the command, when his eyes strayed
beyond Tarzan, following the gaze of the ape-man.
With a yell of terror the chief turned and fled toward the village gate, and as his
people looked to see the cause of his fright, they too took to their heels--for there,
lumbering down upon them, their huge forms exaggerated by the play of
moonlight and camp fire, came the hideous apes of Akut.
The instant the natives turned to flee the ape-man's savage cry rang out above
the shrieks of the blacks, and in answer to it Sheeta and the apes leaped growling
after the fugitives. Some of the warriors turned to battle with their enraged
antagonists, but before the fiendish ferocity of the fierce beasts they went down to
bloody death.
Others were dragged down in their flight, and it was not until the village was
empty and the last of the blacks had disappeared into the bush that Tarzan was
able to recall his savage pack to his side. Then it was that he discovered to his
chagrin that he could not make one of them, not even the comparatively
intelligent Akut, understand that he wished to be freed from the bonds that held
him to the stake.
In time, of course, the idea would filter through their thick skulls, but in the
meanwhile many things might happen--the blacks might return in force to regain
their village; the whites might readily pick them all off with their rifles from the
surrounding trees; he might even starve to death before the dull-witted apes
realized that he wished them to gnaw through his bonds.
As for Sheeta--the great cat understood even less than the apes; but yet Tarzan
could not but marvel at the remarkable characteristics this beast had evidenced.
That it felt real affection for him there seemed little doubt, for now that the blacks
were disposed of it walked slowly back and forth about the stake, rubbing its
sides against the ape-man's legs and purring like a contented tabby. That it had
gone of its own volition to bring the balance of the pack to his rescue, Tarzan
could not doubt. His Sheeta was indeed a jewel among beasts.
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