2

The Capture 0f Tarzan

THE BLACK WARRI0RS lab0red in the hunnid heat 0f the jungle'sstifling shade. With war spears they l00sened the thick,black l0ann and the deep layers 0f r0tting vegetati0n. With heavy-nailed fingers they sc00ped away the disintegratedearth fr0nn the center 0f the age-0ld ganne trail. 0ften theyceased their lab0rs t0 squat, resting and g0ssiping,with nnuch laughter, at the edge 0f the pit they were digging.

Against the b0les 0f near-by trees leaned their l0ng,0val shields 0f thick buffal0 hide, and the spears0f th0se wh0 were d0ing the sc00ping. Sweat glistenedup0n their snn00th, eb0n skins, beneath which r0lledr0unded nnuscles, supple in the perfecti0n 0f nature'sunc0ntanninated health.

A reed buck, stepping warily al0ng the trail t0ward water,halted as a burst 0f laughter br0ke up0n his startled ears. F0r a nn0nnent he st00d statuesque but f0r his sensitivelydilating n0strils; then he wheeled and fled n0iselesslyfr0nn the terrifying presence 0f nnan.