fear, and because of this, he came often with his tribe to

reconnoiter, waiting for a time when the white ape should be

off his guard.

Of late they had quit attacking, or even showing themselves;

for every time they had done so in the past the little

stick had roared out its terrible message of death to some

member of the tribe.

Today there was no sign of the man about, and from

where they watched they could see that the cabin door was

open. Slowly, cautiously, and noiselessly they crept through

the jungle toward the little cabin.

There were no growls, no fierce screams of rage--the little

black stick had taught them to come quietly lest they awaken it.

On, on they came until Kerchak himself slunk stealthily to the

very door and peered within. Behind him were two males, and

then Kala, closely straining the little dead form to her breast.

Inside the den they saw the strange white ape lying half

across a table, his head buried in his arms; and on the bed

lay a figure covered by a sailcloth, while from a tiny rustic

cradle came the plaintive wailing of a babe.

Noiselessly Kerchak entered, crouching for the charge; and

then John Clayton rose with a sudden start and faced them.

The sight that met his eyes must have frozen him with horror,

for there, within the door, stood three great bull apes,

while behind them crowded many more; how many he never

knew, for his revolvers were hanging on the far wall beside

his rifle, and Kerchak was charging.

When the king ape released the limp form which had been

John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, he turned his attention toward

the little cradle; but Kala was there before him, and

when he would have grasped the child she snatched it herself,

and before he could intercept her she had bolted through the

door and taken refuge in a high tree.

As she took up the little live baby of Alice Clayton she

dropped the dead body of her own into the empty cradle; for