CHAPTER VI: GIANT EMOTIONSStraining at his bonds with his powerful muscles knotted in tense cords Tarzan broke loose from the stake just as Black John hurled his spear.
At the same instant Tantor broke through the stockade and the natives scattered in terror, Black John seized up Bobby and fled after them as Tarzan took the swooning Mary in his arms. The huge elephant lumbered over to Tarzan and knelt. Holding the girl in his arms Tarzan mounted his back. Tantor rose and crashed out of the stockade into the jungle and safety.
Always in times of trouble or perplexity Tarzan was drawn back by a strange power to the lonely hut in the heart of the jungle. Mary opened her eyes, struggled from his arms and stood in this rude shack staring at him.
"Where am I? What happened?" she demanded.
"The witch doctor says he is God." Tarzan in his triumph was child-like. "But he and his people ran from me and Tantor. I am more mighty than Tantor. I am God!"
Mary was aghast. But she smiled, understanding the child mind of the handsome jungle giant. "No, Tarzan -- not God -- but a man created by God in His own image."
Tarzan echoed the girl's word. "Man." He strode over to the old chest, opened it, and from it he took a picture of a lovely woman. It was Lady Greystoke.
"This -- man?" he asked.
Mary took it and shook his head, smiling. "No. A woman."
Tarzan was puzzled. "Woman," he repeated. "She. LIke Taug's Teeka?"
Mary smiled and nodded yes. Again he searched his chest and this time drew out a picture of Lord Greystoke in his uniform with the family crest on the photograph. "Man?" he asked.
"Yes, this is a man, like you, Tarzan," answered Mary. "And see, it says Lord Greystoke and there is the crest like that carved on your knife."
It did not interest Tarzan much now. "Tarzan a man -- he?" He thumped his great chest. Mary smiled. "You a woman -- she?" Again Mary smiled acquiescence. "You Tarzan's she?"
Mary smiled, but fearfully, raised herself on tip-toe and impetuously pressed her lips to his face. Tarzan drew back bewildered. He rubbed his lips, a strange smile on his face. "It is like honey that the Sting People hide in the trees!" he cried in the emotions of his first kiss.
Tarzan was like a big child, now. Mary felt her power over him. Yet she feared his physical power over her. Besides, she was tired. She wanted rest. Slowly she made him understand that she wanted to rest alone in the hut. She knew that he would not leave her now, but would stand on guard through the night. Besides there was the bird call if she should need him. Gradually she got the idea into his head to leave her alone in the hut through t he night.
Outside Tarzan saw the moon now with new eyes. He swung him self through the trees in sheer joy of living. "Ho!" he roared up at the moon. "King of the night -- it is Tarzan, King of the Jungle, defies you! Come down and fight! I will conquer you, give you as a present to Tarzan's she!"Threshing along in his delirium of love Tarzan made his way through he trees making a wide circle of the hut in the clearing.
All through the night Black John had kept Bobby a prisoner close. He knew that Bobby knew where Tarzan's lair was. But Bobby was defiant.
"No," he stuck to it tearfully, "I won't tell you where Tarzan sleeps."
"You won't!" Black John snatched down a big bull whip from the wall. "This will make you tell!"
Bobby cringed back with terror.
So it was that in the middle of the night Black John gathered four of his boldest spirits. "Tarzan has stolen the woman who would be our queen. Come with me."
Through the jungle the dark five made their way, until on the edge of the clearing they found the hut. Black John could hear Tarzan in the distance bellowing his love-defiance of the moon-god, Goru. It was an opportunity. He posted the four on guard and crossed quickly to the hut.
Mary was just about to retire on an old broken cot, had started to unfasten her scant robe when she was startled by a noise as the door opened with an unseen hand.
"Don't make a sound!" came a thick hoarse whisper.
She recoiled in terror as Black John crept into the room confronting her menacingly.
"No ape-man shall have the woman I want!" he hissed.
"But I loathe you," she cried bitterly, retreating from him.
Black John grinned in ugly triumph. "I have laid plans to get you out of the jungle when I have located a vast treasure I know of that will make you richer than the richest woman in the world!"
Mary shook her head. Black John sneered. "You won't?" I hold the winning card -- your brother, Bobby. Young woman, be at the village before dawn -- or you will never see him alive again!"
"You -- monster" gasped Mary.
Nearer could be heard Tarzan's jungle call. HOrrified, Mary was weakening a the thought of Bobby.
"If he finds me here with you --" smirked Black John.
"All right. I promise. Now go quickly. Tarzan is coming!"
Black John made a hasty exit, covering up his fear. Mary, filled with dread, turned to the old cot again.
She was apparently asleep when Tarzan entered, covered by an old blanket and a leopard skin she had snatched up from the floor. A moment he stared at her, then reached over and touched her soft shoulder with his big hand gently. Mary, tense on the cot, was pretending to sleep. INwardly she was full of apprehension. He reached over and picked up the leopard robe she had caught up from the floor. She did not move. Then he vanished through the door to sleep in the open with his covering.
In the morning, full of renewed energy, Tarzan swung himself down to the door of the hut and opened it. His heart stood still. Mary was not on the old cot. He called her name, searched the room, then dashed out of the hut.
Tarzan was indeed a wild man. The honey of that first kiss had turned to bitterness. The beasts and the birds of the jungle went two by two. Must tarzan walk alone, always alone? Tarzan the mighty was swiftly turned again into the ruthless killer of the jungle. He uttered a bull-ape cry, uprooted a sapling and flung it from him, as he strode along.
IN the village they heard the echo of his cry. "Tarzan" the natives cried. "Tarzan is calling to his jungle people again! He comes to kill!"
In Black John's cabin Mary hugged Bobby closely to her breast and smiled. She had heard the call faintly echoing, now she heard the shouts of fear of the villagers, as they scattered. It filled her with joy. Help was coming.
Her joy was short-lived. Through the door of the cabin shouldered Black John in rage. He strode over to a small trap door in the wall. He indicated to her to go through. With Bobby clinging to her Mary obeyed. The trap door slid back behind them and Black John who had quickly followed.
There beside them was a lion pit. In it snarled ferocious specimen. Horrified Mary shrieked Tarzan's name. The lion let out a terrific roar.
Just an instant Tarzan hesitated in the village as he heard his name called. It was Mary's voice -- and it came from Black John's cabin. HIs rage changed instantly to worry. Another moment and Tarzan leaped to the door of Black John's hut.
Again the lion roared and Mary screamed. Tarzan entered quickly. Suddenly the door slammed behind him. Black John had thrown a heavy bar. With the other hand he reached for a lever. He pulled it, opening another trap.
Snarling the lion charged through the trap as Tarzan crouched to meet the tawny leap of the infuriated beast.
Next:
Chapter VII: Flaming Hate
TARZAN THE MIGHTY
FILM SERIAL SUMMARY
From Universal Weekly 1928
Chapter Six: The Fiery PitBlack John's attempt to drive Tarzan and his friends from the burning hut was frustrated by a sudden rainstorm. With the fire extinguished, Tarzan dashes from the hut, with Bobbie following, while the natives flee in superstitious fear. Black John finds Mary alone and captures her, forcing her to return to the village, where she is imprisoned in the ceremonial chamber. In the meantime Tarzan and Bobbie discover that Mary has disappeared. They set out for the village. Mary is hoping they will arrive in time to save her from Black John, who has found the papers identifying Tarzan as Lord Greystoke, and is planning to annex the title and estates for himself.
Leaving Mary chained hand and foot and well guarded, Black John goes to prepare for the marriage ceremony. Bobbie slips through the village and sees Black John leaving the ceremonial chamber. He manages to reach Mary and hears of her danger. He goes for Tarzan and, returning, tricks the guards so Tarzan can overcome them. One of the guards recovers and goes to warn Black John. As Tarzan is breaking the last of Mary's chains the shadows of Black John and his conspirators are seen. A knife is raised and plunges down towards the shadow of Tarzan.
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