for support, down
through the leafy branches of the tree. For fifteen feet the two fell,
Tarzan's teeth buried in the jugular of his opponent, when a stout
branch stopped their descent. The bull struck full upon the small of
his back across the limb, hung there for a moment with the ape-man
still upon his breast, and then toppled over toward the ground.

Tarzan had felt the instantaneous relaxation of the body beneath him
after the heavy impact with the tree limb, and as the other turned
completely over and started again upon its fall toward the ground, he
reached forth a hand and caught the branch in time to stay his own
descent, while the ape dropped like a plummet to the foot of the tree.

Tarzan looked downward for a moment upon the still form of his late
antagonist, then he rose to his full height, swelled his deep chest,
smote upon it with his clenched fist and roared out the uncanny
challenge of the victorious bull ape.

Even Sheeta, the panther, crouched for a spring at the edge of the
little clearing, moved uneasily as the mighty voice sent its weird cry
reverberating through the jungle. To right and left, nervously,
glanced Sheeta, as though assuring himself that the way of escape lay
ready at hand.

"I am Tarzan of the Apes," boasted the ape-man; "mighty hunter, mighty
fighter! None in all the jungle so great as Tarzan."

Then he made his way back in the direction of Taug. Teeka had watched
the happenings in the tree. She had even placed her precious balu upon
the soft grasses and come a little nearer that she might better witness
all that was passing in the branches above her. In her heart of hearts
did she still esteem the smooth-skinned Tarzan? Did her savage breast
swell with pride as she witnessed his victory over the ape? You will
have to ask Teeka.

And Sheeta, the panther, saw that the she-ape had left her cub alone
among the grasses. He moved his tail again, as though this closest
approximation of lashing in which he dared indulge might stimulate his
momentarily waned courage. The cry of the victorious ape-man still
held his nerves beneath its spell. It would be several minutes before
he again could bring himself to the point of charging into view of the
giant anthropoids.

And as he regathered his forces, Tarzan reached Taug's side, and then
clambering higher up to the point where the end of the grass rope was
made fast, he unloosed it and lowered the ape slowly downward, swinging