ized 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. Then they
turned and retraced their way to the amphitheater.

When Akut felt assured that they were no longer pursued he stopped and
released Korak. The boy was furious.

"Why did you drag me away?" he cried. "I would have taught them! I
would have taught them all! Now they will think that I am afraid of
them."

"What they think cannot harm you," said Akut. "You are alive. If I
had not brought you away you would be dead now and so would I. Do you
not know that even Numa slinks from the path of the great apes when
there are many of them and they are mad?"

Chapter 9

It was an unhappy Korak who wandered aimlessly through the jungle the
day following his inhospitable reception by the great apes. His heart
was heavy from disappointment. Unsatisfied vengeance smoldered in his
breast. He looked with hatred upon the denizens of his jungle world,
bearing his fighting fangs and growling at those that came within
radius of his senses. The mark of his father's early life was strong
upon him and enhanced by months of association with beasts, from whom
the imitative faculty of youth had absorbed a countless number of
little mannerisms of the predatory creatures of the wild.

He bared his fangs now as naturally and upon as slight provocation as
Sheeta, the panther, bared his. He growled as ferociously as Akut
himself. When he came suddenly upon another beast his quick crouch
bore a strange resemblance to the arching of a cat's back. Korak, the
killer, was looking for trouble. In his heart of hearts he hoped to
meet the king ape who had driven him from the amphitheater. To this
end he insisted upon remaining i