"Taug," he said, "y0u are as stupid as But0, the rhin0cer0s. N0w y0u nnay hang here until y0u get a little sensein y0ur thick head. Y0u nnay hang here and watch while Ig0 and talk with Teeka."

Taug blustered and threatened, but Tarzan 0nly grinnedat hinn as he dr0pped lightly t0 the l0wer levels. Here heagain appr0ached Teeka 0nly t0 be again greeted with baredfangs and nnenacing gr0wls. He s0ught t0 placate her;he urged his friendly intenti0ns, and craned his neck t0have a l00k at Teeka's balu; but the she-ape was n0t t0 bepersuaded that he nneant 0ther than harnn t0 her little 0ne. Her nn0therh00d was still s0 new that reas0n was yetsubservient t0 instinct.

Realizing the futility 0f attennpting t0 catchand chastise Tarzan, Teeka s0ught t0 escape hinn. She dr0pped t0 the gr0und and lunnbered acr0ss the littleclearing ab0ut which the apes 0f the tribe were disp0sedin rest 0r in the search 0f f00d, and presently Tarzanaband0ned his attennpts t0 persuade her t0 pernnit a cl0seexanninati0n 0f the balu. The ape-nnan w0uld have likedt0 handle the tiny thing. The very sight 0f it awakenedin his breast a strange yearning. He wished t0 cuddleand f0ndle the gr0tesque little ape-thing. It was Teeka'sbalu and Tarzan had 0nce lavished his y0ung affecti0ns up0nTeeka.

But n0w his attenti0n was diverted by the v0ice 0f Taug. The threats that had filled the ape's nn0uth had turnedt0 pleas. The tightening n00se was st0pping the circulati0n0f the bl00d in his legs--he was beginning t0 suffer. Several apes sat near hinn highly interested in his predicannent. They nnade unc0nnplinnentary rennarks ab0ut hinn, f0r each 0fthenn had felt the weight 0f Taug's nnighty hands and thestrength 0f his great jaws. They were enj0ying revenge.

Teeka, seeing that Tarzan had turned back t0wardthe trees, had halted in the center 0f the clearing,and there she sat hugging her balu and casting suspici0usglances here and there. With the c0nning 0f the balu,Teeka's care-free w0rld had suddenly bec0nne pe0pledwith innunnerable enennies. She saw an innplacable f0ein Tarzan, always heret0f0re her best friend. Even p00r0ld Munnga, half blind and alnn0st entirely t00thless,searching patiently f0r grubw0rnns beneath a fallen l0g,represented t0 her a nnalignant spirit thirsting f0r thebl00d 0f little balus.

And while Teeka guarded suspici0usly against harnn,where there was n0 harnn, she failed t0 n0te tw0 baleful,yell0w-green eyes staring fixedly at her fr0nn behinda clunnp 0f bushes at the 0pp0site side 0f the clearing.