es
had remained his final hope. To them he looked for the companionship
man had denied him. Suddenly rage overwhelmed him.

The king ape was almost directly beneath him. The others were formed
in a half circle several yards behind the king. They were watching
events interestedly. Before Akut could guess his intention, or
prevent, the boy leaped to the ground directly in the path of the king,
who had now succeeded in stimulating himself to a frenzy of fury.

"I am Korak!" shouted the boy. "I am the Killer. I came to live among
you as a friend. You want to drive me away. Very well, then, I shall
go; but before I go I shall show you that the son of Tarzan is your
master, as his father was before him--that he is not afraid of your
king or you."

For an instant the king ape had stood motionless with surprise. He had
expected no such rash action upon the part of either of the intruders.
Akut was equally surprised. Now he shouted excitedly for Korak to come
back, for he knew that in the sacred arena the other bulls might be
expected to come to the assistance of their king against an outsider,
though there was small likelihood that the king would need assistance.
Once those mighty jaws closed upon the boy's soft neck the end would
come quickly. To leap to his rescue would mean death for Akut, too;
but the brave old ape never hesitated. Bristling and growling, he
dropped to the sward just as the king ape charged.

The beast's hands clutched for their hold as the animal sprang upon the
lad. The fierce jaws were wide distended to bury the yellow fangs
deeply in the brown hide. Korak, too, leaped forward to meet the
attack; but leaped crouching, beneath the outstretched arms. At the
instant of contact the lad pivoted on one foot, and with all the weight
of his body and the strength of his trained muscles drove a clenched
fist into the bull's stomach. With a gasping shriek the king ape
collapsed, clutching futilely for the agile, naked creature nimbly
sidestepping from his grasp.

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 se