The Son of Tarzan | Page 5

had little or nothing to do with the men who had rescued him. He was
too weak to work and too morose for company, and so they quickly left
him alone to his own devices.
The Marjorie W. had been chartered by a syndicate of wealthy
manufacturers, equipped with a laboratory and a staff of scientists, and
sent out to search for some natural product which the manufacturers
who footed the bills had been importing from South America at an
enormous cost. What the product was none on board the Marjorie W.
knew except the scientists, nor is it of any moment to us, other than that
it led the ship to a certain island off the coast of Africa after Alexis
Paulvitch had been taken aboard.

The ship lay at anchor off the coast for several weeks. The monotony of
life aboard her became trying for the crew. They went often ashore, and
finally Paulvitch asked to accompany them--he too was tiring of the
blighting sameness of existence upon the ship.
The island was heavily timbered. Dense jungle ran down almost to the
beach. The scientists were far inland, prosecuting their search for the
valuable commodity that native rumor upon the mainland had led them
to believe might be found here in marketable quantity. The ship's
company fished, hunted, and explored. Paulvitch shuffled up and down
the beach, or lay in the shade of the great trees that skirted it. One day,
as the men were gathered at a little distance inspecting the body of a
panther that had fallen to the gun of one of them who had been hunting
inland, Paulvitch lay sleeping beneath his tree. He was awakened by the
touch of a hand upon his shoulder. With a start he sat up to see a huge,
anthropoid ape squatting at his side, inspecting him intently. The
Russian was thoroughly frightened. He glanced toward the sailors--they
were a couple of hundred yards away. Again the ape plucked at his
shoulder, jabbering plaintively. Paulvitch saw no menace in the
inquiring gaze, or in the attitude of the beast. He got slowly to his feet.
The ape rose at his side.
Half doubled, the man shuffled cautiously away toward the sailors. The
ape moved with him, taking one of his arms. They had come almost to
the little knot of men before they were seen, and by this time Paulvitch
had become assured that the beast meant no harm. The animal
evidently was accustomed to the association of human beings. It
occurred to the Russian that the ape represented a certain considerable
money value, and before they reached the sailors he had decided he
should be the one to profit by it.
When the men looked up and saw the oddly paired couple shuffling
toward them they were filled with amazement, and started on a run
toward the two. The ape showed no sign of fear. Instead he grasped
each sailor by the shoulder and peered long and earnestly into his face.
Having inspected them all he returned to Paulvitch's side,
disappointment written strongly upon his countenance and in his

carriage.
The men were delighted with him. They gathered about, asking
Paulvitch many questions, and examining his companion. The Russian
told them that the ape was his--nothing further would he offer--but kept
harping continually upon the same theme, "The ape is mine. The ape is
mine." Tiring of Paulvitch, one of the men essayed a pleasantry.
Circling about behind the ape he prodded the anthropoid in the back
with a pin. Like a flash the beast wheeled upon its tormentor, and, in
the briefest instant of turning, the placid, friendly animal was
metamorphosed to a frenzied demon of rage. The broad grin that had
sat upon the sailor's face as he perpetrated his little joke froze to an
expression of terror. He attempted to dodge the long arms that reached
for him; but, failing, drew a long knife that hung at his belt. With a
single wrench the ape tore the weapon from the man's grasp and flung
it to one side, then his yellow fangs were buried in the sailor's shoulder.
With sticks and knives the man's companions fell upon the beast, while
Paulvitch danced around the cursing snarling pack mumbling and
screaming pleas and threats. He saw his visions of wealth rapidly
dissipating before the weapons of the sailors.
The ape, however, proved no easy victim to the superior numbers that
seemed fated to overwhelm him. Rising from the sailor who had
precipitated the battle he shook his giant shoulders, freeing himself
from two of the men that were clinging to his back, and with mighty
blows of his open palms felled one after another of his attackers,
leaping hither and thither with the agility of a small