reature, but to Taug and Teeka he was as
beautiful and as cute as is your little Mary or Johnnie or Elizabeth
Ann to you, and he was their firstborn, their only balu, and a
he--three things which might make a young ape the apple of any fond
father's eye.

For a moment Taug sniffed at the quiet little form. With his muzzle
and his tongue he smoothed and caressed the rumpled coat. From his
savage lips broke a low moan; but quickly upon the heels of sorrow came
the overmastering desire for revenge.

Leaping to his feet he screamed out a volley of "Kreegahs," punctuated
from time to time by the blood-freezing cry of an angry, challenging
bull--a rage-mad bull with the blood lust strong upon him.

Answering his cries came the cries of the tribe as they swung through
the trees toward him. It was these that Tarzan heard on his return
from his cabin, and in reply to them he raised his own voice and
hurried forward with increased speed until he fairly flew through the
middle terraces of the forest.

When at last he came upon the tribe he saw their members gathered about
Taug and something which lay quietly upon the ground. Dropping among
them, Tarzan approached the center of the group. Taug was stiff
roaring out his challenges; but when he saw Tarzan he ceased and
stooping picked up Gazan in his arms and held him out for Tarzan to
see. Of all the bulls of the tribe, Taug held affection for Tarzan
only. Tarzan he trusted and looked up to as one wiser and more
cunning. To Tarzan he came now--to the playmate of his balu days, the
companion of innumerable battles of his maturity.

When Tarzan saw the still form in Taug's arms, a low growl broke from
his lips, for he too loved Teeka's little balu.

"Who did it?" he asked. "Where is Teeka?"

"I do not know," replied Taug. "I found him lying here with Dango
about to feed upon him; but it was not Dango that did it--there are no
fang marks upon him."

Tarzan came closer and placed an ear against Gazan's breast. "He is
not dead," he said. "Maybe he will not die." He pressed through the
crowd of apes and circled once about them, examining the ground step by
step. Suddenly he stopped and placing his nose close to the earth
sniffed. Then he sprang to his feet, giving a peculiar cry. Taug and
the others pressed forward, for the sound told them that the hunter had
found the spoor of his quarry.

"A stranger bull has been here," said Tarzan. "It was he that hurt
Gaza