Chapter 11 "King of the Apes"

It was not yet dark when he reached the tribe, though he

stopped to exhume and devour the remains of the wild

boar he had cached the preceding day, and again to take

Kulonga's bow and arrows from the tree top in which he had

hidden them.

It was a well-laden Tarzan who dropped from the branches

into the midst of the tribe of Kerchak.

With swelling chest he narrated the glories of his adventure

and exhibited the spoils of conquest.

Kerchak grunted and turned away, for he was jealous of

this strange member of his band. In his little evil brain he

sought for some excuse to wreak his hatred upon Tarzan.

The next day Tarzan was practicing with his bow and arrows

at the first gleam of dawn. At first he lost nearly every

bolt he shot, but finally he learned to guide the little shafts

with fair accuracy, and ere a month had passed he was no

mean shot; but his proficiency had cost him nearly his entire

supply of arrows.

The tribe continued to find the hunting good in the vicinity

of the beach, and so Tarzan of the Apes varied his archery

practice with further investigation of his father's choice

though little store of books.

It was during this period that the young English lord found

hidden in the back of one of the cupboards in the cabin a

small metal box. The key was in the lock, and a few moments

of investigation and experimentation were rewarded

with the successful opening of the receptacle.

In it he found a faded photograph of a smooth faced

young man, a golden locket studded with diamonds, linked to

a small gold chain, a few letters and a small book.

Tarzan examined these all minutely.