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bulls were dancing in the moonlight； leaping in an irregular circle about the flat…topped earthen drum about which three old females sat beating its resounding top with sticks worn smooth by long years of use。
Akut； knowing the temper and customs of his kind； was too wise to make their presence known until the frenzy of the dance had passed。 After the drum was quiet and the bellies of the tribe well…filled he would hail them。 Then would come a parley； after which he and Korak would be accepted into membership by the community。 There might be those who would object； but such could be overcome by brute force； of which he and the lad had an ample surplus。 For weeks； possibly months； their presence might cause ever decreasing suspicion among others of the tribe； but eventually they would become as born brothers to these strange apes。
He hoped that they had been among those who had known Tarzan； for that would help in the introduction of the lad and in the consummation of Akut's dearest wish； that Korak should become king of the apes。 It was with difficulty； however； that Akut kept the boy from rushing into the midst of the dancing anthropoidsan act that would have meant the instant extermination of them both； since the hysterical frenzy into which the great apes work themselves during the performance of their strange rites is of such a nature that even the most ferocious of the carnivora give them a wide berth at such times。
As the moon declined slowly toward the lofty； foliaged horizon of the amphitheater the booming of the drum decreased and lessened were the exertions of the dancers； until； at last； the final note was struck and the huge beasts turned to fall upon the feast they had dragged hither for the orgy。
From what he had seen and heard Akut was able to explain to Korak that the rites proclaimed the choosing of a new king； and he pointed out to the boy the massive figure of the shaggy monarch； come into his kingship； no doubt； as many human rulers have come into theirsby the murder of his predecessor。
When the apes had filled their bellies and many of them had sought the bases of the trees to curl up in sleep Akut plucked Korak by the arm。
〃Come；〃 he whispered。 〃Come slowly。 Follow me。 Do as Akut does。〃
Then he advanced slowly through the trees until he stood upon a bough overhanging one side of the amphitheater。 Here he stood in silence for a moment。 Then he uttered a low growl。 Instantly a score of apes leaped to their feet。 There savage little eyes sped quickly around the periphery of the clearing。 The king ape was the first to see the two figures upon the branch。 He gave voice to an ominous growl。 Then he took a few lumbering steps in the direction of the intruders。 His hair was bristling。 His legs were stiff； imparting a halting； jerky motion to his gait。 Behind him pressed a number of bulls。
He stopped just a little before he came beneath the twojust far enough to be beyond their spring。 Wary king！ Here he stood rocking himself to and fro upon his short legs； baring his fangs in hideous grinnings； rumbling out an ever increasing volume of growls； which were slowly but steadily increasing to the proportions of roars。 Akut knew that he was planning an attack upon them。 The old ape did not wish to fight。 He had come with the boy to cast his lot with the tribe。
〃I am Akut；〃 he said。 〃This is Korak。 Korak is the son of Tarzan who was king of the apes。 I； too； was king of the apes who dwelt in the midst of the great waters。 We have come to hunt with you； to fight with you。 We are great hunters。 We are mighty fighters。 Let us come in peace。〃
The king ceased his rocking。 He eyed the pair from beneath his beetling brows。 His bloodshot eyes were savage and crafty。 His kingship was very new and he was jealous of it。 He feared the encroachments of two strange apes。 The sleek； brown； hairless body of the lad spelled 〃man；〃 and man he feared and hated。
〃Go away！〃 he growled。 〃Go away； or I will kill you。〃
The eager lad； standing behind the great Akut； had been pulsing with anticipation and happiness。 He wanted to leap down among these hairy monsters and show them that he was their friend； that he was one of them。 He had expected that they would receive him with open arms； and now the words of the king ape filled him with indignation and sorrow。 The blacks had set upon him and driven him away。 Then he had turned to the white mento those of his own kindonly to hear the ping of bullets where he had expected words of cordial welcome。 The great apes 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 himthat 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 seized 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