Part 6 (1/2)

That night the sun set straight out across the water opposite the land, and then the ape-

Rokoff had set hiht have known it! If there was any plan that would render his positionhe should have known that such would be the one adopted by the Russian, and what could be more terrible than to leave him to a lifetime of suspense upon an uninhabited island?

Rokoff doubtless had sailed directly to thefor hi the infant Jack into the hands of the cruel and savage foster-parents, who, as his note had threatened, would have the upbringing of the child

Tarzan shuddered as he thought of the cruel suffering the little one ht fall into the hands of individuals whose intentions toward him were of the kindest The ape-es of Africa to know that even there may be found the cruder virtues of charity and humanity; but their lives were at best but a series of terrible privations, dangers, and sufferings

Then there was the horrid after-fate that awaited the child as he grew to manhood The horrible practices that would for would alone be sufficient to bar him forever from association with those of his own race and station in life

A cannibal! His little boy a savage man-eater! It was too horrible to contemplate

The filed teeth, the slit nose, the little face painted hideously Tarzan groaned Could he but feel the throat of the Russ fiend beneath his steel fingers!

And Jane!

What tortures of doubt and fear and uncertainty sheHe felt that his position was infinitely less terrible than hers, for he at least knew that one of his loved ones was safe at home, while she had no idea of the whereabouts of either her husband or her son

It is well for Tarzan that he did not guess the truth, for the knowledge would have but added a hundredfold to his suffering

As he looe scratching sound which he could not translate

Cautiously he moved in the direction froe panther pinned beneath a fallen tree

As Tarzan approached, the beast turned, snarling, toward hireat li branches pinioning its legs prevented it fro but a few inches in any direction

The ape- an arrow to his bow that he ht dispatch the beast that otherwise must die of starvation; but even as he drew back the shaft a sudden whim stayed his hand

Why rob the poor creature of life and liberty, when it would be so easy a thing to restore both to it! He was sure from the fact that the panther le for freedom that its spine was uninjured, and for the same reason he knew that none of its li, he returned the arrow to the quiver and, throwing the bow about his shoulder, stepped closer to the pinioned beast

On his lips was the soothing, purring sound that the great cats themselves made when contented and happy It was the nearest approach to a friendly advance that Tarzan could e of Sheeta

The panther ceased his snarling and eyed the ape-ht from the ani, strong talons, and when the tree had been ree beast; but to Tarzan of the Apes fear was a thing unknown

Having decided, he acted prole of branches close to the panther's side, still voicing his friendly and conciliatory purr The cat turned his head toward the s were bared, but more in preparedness than threat

Tarzan put a broad shoulder beneath the bole of the tree, and as he did so his bare leg pressed against the cat's silken side, so close was the iant thews