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That night he slept again in the amphitheater of the apes；
and for several days he hunted from there； returning at night。
On the afternoon of the third day he returned early。
He had lain stretched upon the soft grass of the circular
clearing for but a few moments when he heard far to the
south a familiar sound。 It was the passing through the
jungle of a band of great apeshe could not mistake that。
For several minutes he lay listening。 They were coming
in the direction of the amphitheater。
Tarzan arose lazily and stretched himself。 His keen ears
followed every movement of the advancing tribe。 They were
upwind； and presently he caught their scent； though he had
not needed this added evidence to assure him that he was right。
As they came closer to the amphitheater Tarzan of the Apes
melted into the branches upon the other side of the arena。
There he waited to inspect the newcomers。 Nor had he long
to wait。
Presently a fierce； hairy face appeared among the lower
branches opposite him。 The cruel little eyes took in the
clearing at a glance； then there was a chattered report
returned to those behind。 Tarzan could hear the words。
The scout was telling the other members of the tribe that the
coast was clear and that they might enter the amphitheater
in safety。
First the leader dropped lightly upon the soft carpet of
the grassy floor； and then； one by one； nearly a hundred
anthropoids followed him。 There were the huge adults and
several young。 A few nursing babes clung close to the
shaggy necks of their savage mothers。
Tarzan recognized many members of the tribe。 It was
the same into which he had come as a tiny babe。 Many of
the adults had been little apes during his boyhood。 He had
frolicked and played about this very jungle with them
during their brief childhood。 He wondered if they would
remember himthe memory of some apes is not overlong； and
two years may be an eternity to them。
From the talk which he overheard he learned that they
had come to choose a new kingtheir late chief had fallen a
hundred feet beneath a broken limb to an untimely end。
Tarzan walked to the end of an overhanging limb in
plain view of them。 The quick eyes of a female caught
sight of him first。 With a barking guttural she called
the attention of the others。 Several huge bulls stood
erect to get a better view of the intruder。 With bared
fangs and bristling necks they advanced slowly toward him；
with deep…throated； ominous growls。
〃Karnath； I am Tarzan of the Apes；〃 said the ape…man in
the vernacular of the tribe。 〃You remember me。 Together we
teased Numa when we were still little apes； throwing sticks
and nuts at him from the safety of high branches。〃
The brute he had addressed stopped with a look of half…
comprehending； dull wonderment upon his savage face。
〃And Magor；〃 continued Tarzan； addressing another； 〃do you
not recall your former kinghe who slew the mighty Kerchak？
Look at me！ Am I not the same Tarzanmighty hunterinvincible
fighterthat you all knew for many seasons？〃
The apes all crowded forward now； but more in curiosity
than threatening。 They muttered among themselves for
a few moments。
〃What do you want among us now？〃 asked Karnath。
〃Only peace；〃 answered the ape…man。
Again the apes conferred。 At length Karnath spoke again。
〃Come in peace； then； Tarzan of the Apes；〃 he said。
And so Tarzan of the Apes dropped lightly to the turf
into the midst of the fierce and hideous hordehe had
completed the cycle of evolution； and had returned to be once
again a brute among brutes。
There were no greetings such as would have taken place
among men after a separation of two years。 The majority
of the apes went on about the little activities that the
advent of the ape…man had interrupted； paying no further
attention to him than as though he had not been gone from
the tribe at all。
One or two young bulls who had not been old enough
to remember him sidled up on all fours to sniff at him； and
one bared his fangs and growled threateninglyhe wished
to put Tarzan immediately into his proper place。 Had Tarzan
backed off； growling； the young bull would quite probably
have been satisfied； but always after Tarzan's station among
his fellow apes would have been beneath that of the bull
which had made him step aside。
But Tarzan of the Apes did not back off。 Instead； he swung
his giant palm with all the force of his mighty muscles； and；
catching the young bull alongside the head； sent him
sprawling across the turf。 The ape was up and at him again
in a second； and this time they closed with tearing fingers
and rending fangsor at least that had been the intention of
the young bull； but scarcely had they gone down； growling
and snapping； than the ape…man's fingers found the throat
of his antagonist。
Presently the young bull ceased to struggle； and lay quite still。
Then Tarzan released his hold and arosehe did not wish to kill；
only to teach the young ape； and others who might be watching；
that Tarzan of the Apes was still master。
The lesson served its purposethe young apes kept out
of his way； as young apes should when their betters were
about； and the old bulls made no attempt to encroach upon
his prerogatives。 For several days the she…apes with young
remained suspicious of him； and when he ventured too near
rushed upon him with wide mouths and hideous roars。
Then Tarzan discreetly skipped out of harm's way； for
that also is a custom among the apesonly mad bulls will
attack a mother。 But after a while even they became
accustomed to him。
He hunted with them as in days gone by； and when they
found that his superior reason guided him to the best food
sources； and that his cunning rope ensnared toothsome game
that they seldom if ever tasted； they came again to look up
to him as they had in the past after he had become their king。
And so it was that before they left the amphitheater to return
to their wanderings they had once more chosen him as their leader。
The ape…man felt quite contented with his new lot。 He was
not happythat he never could be again； but he was at
least as far from everything that might remind him of his
past misery as he could be。 Long since he had given up every
intention of returning to civilization； and now he had decided
to see no more his black friends of the Waziri。 He had
foresworn humanity forever。 He had started life an apeas
an ape he would die。
He could not； however； erase from his memory the fact
that the woman he loved was within a short journey of the
stamping…ground of his tribe； nor could he banish the
haunting fear that she might be constantly in danger。
That she was illy protected he had seen in the brief
instant that had witnessed Clayton's inefficiency。
The more Tarzan thought of it； the more keenly his
conscience pricked him。
Finally he ca