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enlarging cavity of the dead tree。
Into this he thrust the blade of his stone knife； and as it
became superheated he would withdraw it； touching a spot
near the thin edge with a drop of moisture。 Beneath the
wetted area a little flake of the glassy material would
crack and scale away。
Thus； very slowly； the ape…man commenced the tedious
operation of putting a thin edge upon his primitive hunting…knife。
He did not attempt to accomplish the feat all in one sitting。
At first he was content to achieve a cutting edge of a couple
of inches； with which he cut a long； pliable bow； a handle
for his knife； a stout cudgel； and a goodly supply of arrows。
These he cached in a tall tree beside a little stream；
and here also he constructed a platform with a roof of
palm…leaves above it。
When all these things had been finished it was growing dusk；
and Tarzan felt a strong desire to eat。
He had noted during the brief incursion he had made into
the forest that a short distance up…stream from his tree there
was a much…used watering place； where； from the trampled
mud of either bank； it was evident beasts of all sorts and in
great numbers came to drink。 To this spot the hungry ape…man
made his silent way。
Through the upper terrace of the tree…tops he swung with
the grace and ease of a monkey。 But for the heavy burden
upon his heart he would have been happy in this return to the
old free life of his boyhood。
Yet even with that burden he fell into the little habits and
manners of his early life that were in reality more a part of
him than the thin veneer of civilization that the past three
years of his association with the white men of the outer world
had spread lightly over hima veneer that only hid the
crudities of the beast that Tarzan of the Apes had been。
Could his fellow…peers of the House of Lords have seen him
then they would have held up their noble hands in holy horror。
Silently he crouched in the lower branches of a great forest
giant that overhung the trail； his keen eyes and sensitive ears
strained into the distant jungle； from which he knew his dinner
would presently emerge。
Nor had he long to wait。
Scarce had he settled himself to a comfortable position；
his lithe； muscular legs drawn well up beneath him as the
panther draws his hindquarters in preparation for the spring；
than Bara； the deer； came daintily down to drink。
But more than Bara was coming。 Behind the graceful buck
came another which the deer could neither see nor scent； but
whose movements were apparent to Tarzan of the Apes because
of the elevated position of the ape…man's ambush。
He knew not yet exactly the nature of the thing that moved
so stealthily through the jungle a few hundred yards behind
the deer； but he was convinced that it was some great beast
of prey stalking Bara for the selfsame purpose as that which
prompted him to await the fleet animal。 Numa； perhaps； or
Sheeta； the panther。
In any event； Tarzan could see his repast slipping from his
grasp unless Bara moved more rapidly toward the ford than
at present。
Even as these thoughts passed through his mind some noise
of the stalker in his rear must have come to the buck； for
with a sudden start he paused for an instant； trembling； in
his tracks； and then with a swift bound dashed straight for
the river and Tarzan。 It was his intention to flee through the
shallow ford and escape upon the opposite side of the river。
Not a hundred yards behind him came Numa。
Tarzan could see him quite plainly now。 Below the ape…man
Bara was about to pass。 Could he do it？ But even as he
asked himself the question the hungry man launched himself
from his perch full upon the back of the startled buck。
In another instant Numa would be upon them both； so if
the ape…man were to dine that night； or ever again；
he must act quickly。
Scarcely had he touched the sleek hide of the deer with a
momentum that sent the animal to its knees than he had
grasped a horn in either hand； and with a single quick wrench
twisted the animal's neck completely round； until he felt the
vertebrae snap beneath his grip。
The lion was roaring in rage close behind him as he swung
the deer across his shoulder； and； grasping a foreleg between
his strong teeth； leaped for the nearest of the lower branches
that swung above his head。
With both hands he grasped the limb； and； at the instant
that Numa sprang； drew himself and his prey out of reach of
the animal's cruel talons。
There was a thud below him as the baffled cat fell back to
earth； and then Tarzan of the Apes； drawing his dinner
farther up to the safety of a higher limb； looked down with
grinning face into the gleaming yellow eyes of the other wild
beast that glared up at him from beneath； and with taunting
insults flaunted the tender carcass of his kill in the face of
him whom he had cheated of it。
With his crude stone knife he cut a juicy steak from the
hindquarters； and while the great lion paced； growling； back
and forth below him； Lord Greystoke filled his savage belly；
nor ever in the choicest of his exclusive London clubs had a
meal tasted more palatable。
The warm blood of his kill smeared his hands and face
and filled his nostrils with the scent that the savage
carnivora love best。
And when he had finished he left the balance of the carcass
in a high fork of the tree where he had dined； and with Numa
trailing below him； still keen for revenge； he made his way
back to his tree…top shelter； where he slept until the sun was
high the following morning。
Chapter 4
Sheeta
The next few days were occupied by Tarzan in completing
his weapons and exploring the jungle。 He strung his
bow with tendons from the buck upon which he had dined
his first evening upon the new shore； and though he would
have preferred the gut of Sheeta for the purpose； he was
content to wait until opportunity permitted him to kill
one of the great cats。
He also braided a long grass ropesuch a rope as he had
used so many years before to tantalize the ill…natured Tublat；
and which later had developed into a wondrous effective
weapon in the practised hands of the little ape…boy。
A sheath and handle for his hunting…knife he fashioned；
and a quiver for arrows； and from the hide of Bara a belt
and loin…cloth。 Then he set out to learn something of the
strange land in which he found himself。 That it was not his
old familiar west coast of the African continent he knew from
the fact that it faced eastthe rising sun came up out of the
sea before the threshold of the jungle。
But that it was not the east coast of Africa he was equally
positive； for he felt satisfied that the Kincaid had not
passed through the Mediterranean； the Suez Canal； and the Red Sea；
nor had she had time to round the Cape of Good Hope。 So he was
quit