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Tarzan clambered upon ithe would rest there until daylight
at least。 He had no intention to remain there inactivea prey
to hunger and thirst。 If he must die he preferred dying in
action while making some semblance of an attempt to save himself。
The sea was quiet； so that the wreck had only a gently
undulating motion； that was nothing to the swimmer who
had had no sleep for twenty hours。 Tarzan of the Apes
curled up upon the slimy timbers； and was soon asleep。
The heat of the sun awoke him early in the forenoon。
His first conscious sensation was of thirst； which grew
almost to the proportions of suffering with full returning
consciousness； but a moment later it was forgotten in the
joy of two almost simultaneous discoveries。 The first was
a mass of wreckage floating beside the derelict in the midst
of which； bottom up； rose and fell an overturned lifeboat；
the other was the faint； dim line of a far…distant shore
showing on the horizon in the east。
Tarzan dove into the water； and swam around the wreck
to the lifeboat。 The cool ocean refreshed him almost as
much as would a draft of water； so that it was with renewed
vigor that he brought the smaller boat alongside the derelict；
and； after many herculean efforts； succeeded in dragging it
onto the slimy ship's bottom。 There he righted and examined
itthe boat was quite sound； and a moment later floated upright
alongside the wreck。 Then Tarzan selected several pieces
of wreckage that might answer him as paddles； and presently
was making good headway toward the far…off shore。
It was late in the afternoon by the time he came close
enough to distinguish objects on land； or to make out the
contour of the shore line。 Before him lay what appeared to
be the entrance to a little； landlocked harbor。 The wooded
point to the north was strangely familiar。 Could it be
possible that fate had thrown him up at the very threshold
of his own beloved jungle！ But as the bow of his boat
entered the mouth of the harbor the last shred of doubt was
cleared away； for there before him upon the farther shore；
under the shadows of his primeval forest； stood his own
cabinbuilt before his birth by the hand of his long…dead
father； John Clayton； Lord Greystoke。
With long sweeps of his giant muscles Tarzan sent the little
craft speeding toward the beach。 Its prow had scarcely
touched when the ape…man leaped to shorehis heart beat
fast in joy and exultation as each long…familiar object came
beneath his roving eyesthe cabin； the beach； the little
brook； the dense jungle； the black； impenetrable forest。
The myriad birds in their brilliant plumagethe gorgeous
tropical blooms upon the festooned creepers falling in great
loops from the giant trees。
Tarzan of the Apes had come into his own again； and that
all the world might know it he threw back his young head；
and gave voice to the fierce； wild challenge of his tribe。
For a moment silence reigned upon the jungle； and then；
low and weird； came an answering challengeit was the
deep roar of Numa； the lion； and from a great distance；
faintly； the fearsome answering bellow of a bull ape。
Tarzan went to the brook first； and slaked his thirst。
Then he approached his cabin。 The door was still closed
and latched as he and D'Arnot had left it。 He raised the
latch and entered。 Nothing had been disturbed； there were
the table； the bed； and the little crib built by his
fatherthe shelves and cupboards just as they had stood
for ever twenty…three yearsjust as he had left them
nearly two years before。
His eyes satisfied； Tarzan's stomach began to call aloud for
attentionthe pangs of hunger suggested a search for food。
There was nothing in the cabin； nor had he any weapons；
but upon a wall hung one of his old grass ropes。 It had
been many times broken and spliced； so that he had discarded
it for a better one long before。 Tarzan wished that he had a knife。
Well； unless he was mistaken he should have that and a spear and
bows and arrows before another sun had setthe rope would take
care of that； and in the meantime it must be made to procure
food for him。 He coiled it carefully； and； throwing it about
his shoulder； went out； closing the door behind him。
Close to the cabin the jungle commenced； and into it
Tarzan of the Apes plunged； wary and noiselessonce more
a savage beast hunting its food。 For a time he kept to the
ground； but finally； discovering no spoor indicative of
nearby meat； he took to the trees。 With the first dizzy swing
from tree to tree all the old joy of living swept over him。
Vain regrets and dull heartache were forgotten。 Now was he living。
Now； indeed； was the true happiness of perfect freedom his。
Who would go back to the stifling； wicked cities of civilized
man when the mighty reaches of the great jungle offered peace
and liberty？ Not he。
While it was yet light Tarzan came to a drinking place by
the side of a jungle river。 There was a ford there； and for
countless ages the beasts of the forest had come down to
drink at this spot。 Here of a night might always be found
either Sabor or Numa crouching in the dense foliage of the
surrounding jungle awaiting an antelope or a water buck for
their meal。 Here came Horta； the boar； to water； and here
came Tarzan of the Apes to make a kill； for he was very empty。
On a low branch he squatted above the trail。 For an hour
he waited。 It was growing dark。 A little to one side of the
ford in the densest thicket he heard the faint sound of padded
feet； and the brushing of a huge body against tall grasses
and tangled creepers。 None other than Tarzan might have
heard it； but the ape…man heard and translatedit was Numa；
the lion； on the same errand as himself。 Tarzan smiled。
Presently he heard an animal approaching warily along
the trail toward the drinking place。 A moment more and it
came in viewit was Horta； the boar。 Here was delicious
meatand Tarzan's mouth watered。 The grasses where Numa
lay were very still nowominously still。 Horta passed
beneath Tarzana few more steps and he would be within the
radius of Numa's spring。 Tarzan could imagine how old
Numa's eyes were shininghow he was already sucking
in his breath for the awful roar which would freeze his prey
for the brief instant between the moment of the spring and
the sinking of terrible fangs into splintering bones。
But as Numa gathered himself； a slender rope flew through
the air from the low branches of a near…by tree。 A noose
settled about Horta's neck。 There was a frightened grunt；
a squeal； and then Numa saw his quarry dragged backward
up the trail； and； as he sprang； Horta； the boar； soared
upward beyond his clutches into the tree above； and a mocking
face looked down and laughed into his own。
Then indeed did Numa roar。 Angry； threatening； hungry；
he paced back and forth beneath the taunting ape…man。
Now he stopped； and； rising on