Howls of rage and dismay broke from the bull apes behind the fallen
king, as with murder in their savage little hearts they rushed
forward upon Korak and Akut; but the old ape was too wise to court
any such unequal encounter. To have counseled the boy to retreat now
would have been futile, and Akut knew it. To delay even a second
in argument would have sealed the death warrants of them both.
There was but a single hope and Akut seized it. Grasping the lad
around the waist he lifted him bodily from the ground, and turning
ran swiftly toward another tree which swung low branches above the
arena. Close upon their heels swarmed the hideous mob; but Akut,
old though he was and burdened by the weight of the struggling
Korak, was still fleeter than his pursuers.
With a bound he grasped a low limb, and with the agility of a little
monkey swung himself and the boy to temporary safety. Nor did he
hesitate even here; but raced on through the jungle night, bearing
his burden to safety. For a time the bulls pursued; but presently,
as the swifter outdistanced the slower and found themselves separated
from their fellows they abandoned the chase, standing roaring and
screaming until the jungle reverberated to their hideous noises.
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