The beast halted at sight of them. He gave
a warning grunt back over his shoulder, and a moment later coming
cautiously another bull appeared. He was followed by others--both
bulls and females with young, until two score hairy monsters stood
glaring at the three. It was the tribe of the dead king ape. Akut
was the first to speak. He pointed to the body of the dead bull.
"Korak, mighty fighter, has killed your king," he grunted. "There
is none greater in all the jungle than Korak, son of Tarzan. Now
Korak is king. What bull is greater than Korak?" It was a
challenge to any bull who might care to question Korak's right to
the kingship. The apes jabbered and chattered and growled among
themselves for a time. At last a young bull came slowly forward
rocking upon his short legs, bristling, growling, terrible.
The beast was enormous, and in the full prime of his strength. He
belonged to that almost extinct species for which white men have long
sought upon the information of the natives of the more inaccessible
jungles. Even the natives seldom see these great, hairy, primordial
men.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199