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the Tor…o…don sprang in and commenced to belabor the huge beast across the face with his stick。 To the ape…man's amazement the gryf； that might have annihilated the comparatively puny Tor…o…don instantly in any of a dozen ways； cringed like a whipped cur。
〃Whee…oo！ Whee…oo！〃 shouted the Tor…o…don and the gryf came slowly toward him。 A whack on the median horn brought it to a stop。 Then the Tor…o…don walked around behind it； clambered up its tail and seated himself astraddle of the huge back。 〃Whee…oo！〃 he shouted and prodded the beast with a sharp point of his stick。 The gryf commenced to move off。
So rapt had Tarzan been in the scene below him that he had given no thought to escape； for he realized that for him and Pan…at…lee time had in these brief moments turned back countless ages to spread before their eyes a page of the dim and distant past。 They two had looked upon the first man and his primitive beasts of burden。
And now the ridden gryf halted and looked up at them； bellowing。 It was sufficient。 The creature had warned its master of their presence。 Instantly the Tor…o…don urged the beast close beneath the tree which held them； at the same time leaping to his feet upon the horny back。 Tarzan saw the bestial face； the great fangs； the mighty muscles。 From the loins of such had sprung the human raceand only from such could it have sprung； for only such as this might have survived the horrid dangers of the age that was theirs。
The Tor…o…don beat upon his breast and growled horribly hideous； uncouth； beastly。 Tarzan rose to his full height upon a swaying branchstraight and beautiful as a demigodunspoiled by the taint of civilizationa perfect specimen of what the human race might have been had the laws of man not interfered with the laws of nature。
The Present fitted an arrow to his bow and drew the shaft far back。 The Past basing its claims upon brute strength sought to reach the other and drag him down； but the loosed arrow sank deep into the savage heart and the Past sank back into the oblivion that had claimed his kind。
〃Tarzan…jad…guru！〃 murmured Pan…at…lee； unknowingly giving him out of the fullness of her admiration the same title that the warriors of her tribe had bestowed upon him。
The ape…man turned to her。 〃Pan…at…lee；〃 he said； 〃these beasts may keep us treed here indefinitely。 I doubt if we can escape together； but I have a plan。 You remain here； hiding yourself in the foliage； while I start back across the gorge in sight of them and yelling to attract their attention。 Unless they have more brains than I suspect they will follow me。 When they are gone you make for the cliff。 Wait for me in the cave not longer than today。 If I do not come by tomorrow's sun you will have to start back for Kor…ul…ja alone。 Here is a joint of deer meat for you。〃 He had severed one of the deer's hind legs and this he passed up to her。
〃I cannot desert you；〃 she said simply； 〃it is not the way of my people to desert a friend and ally。 Om…at would never forgive me。〃
〃Tell Om…at that I commanded you to go；〃 replied Tarzan。
〃It is a command？〃 she asked。
〃It is！ Good…bye； Pan…at…lee。 Hasten back to Om…atyou are a fitting mate for the chief of Kor…ul…ja。〃 He moved off slowly through the trees。
〃Good…bye； Tarzan…jad…guru！〃 she called after him。 〃Fortunate are my Om…at and his Pan…at…lee in owning such a friend。〃
Tarzan； shouting aloud； continued upon his way and the great gryfs； lured by his voice； followed beneath。 His ruse was evidently proving successful and he was filled with elation as he led the bellowing beasts farther and farther from Pan…at…lee。 He hoped that she would take advantage of the opportunity afforded her for escape； yet at the same time he was filled with concern as to her ability to survive the dangers which lay between Kor…ul…gryf and Kor…ul…ja。 There were lions and Tor…o…dons and the unfriendly tribe of Kor…ul…lul to hinder her progress； though the distance in itself to the cliffs of her people was not great。
He realized her bravery and understood the resourcefulness that she must share in common with all primitive people who； day by day； must contend face to face with nature's law of the survival of the fittest； unaided by any of the numerous artificial protections that civilization has thrown around its brood of weaklings。
Several times during this crossing of the gorge Tarzan endeavored to outwit his keen pursuers； but all to no avail。 Double as he would he could not throw them off his track and ever as he changed his course they changed theirs to conform。 Along the verge of the forest upon the southeastern side of the gorge he sought some point at which the trees touched some negotiable portion of the cliff； but though he traveled far both up and down the gorge he discovered no such easy avenue of escape。 The ape…man finally commenced to entertain an idea of the hopelessness of his case and to realize to the full why the Kor…ul…gryf had been religiously abjured by the races of Pal…ul…don for all these many ages。
Night was falling and though since early morning he had sought diligently a way out of this cul…de…sac he was no nearer to liberty than at the moment the first bellowing gryf had charged him as he stooped over the carcass of his kill： but with the falling of night came renewed hope for； in common with the great cats； Tarzan was； to a greater or lesser extent； a nocturnal beast。 It is true he could not see by night as well as they； but that lack was largely recompensed for by the keenness of his scent and the highly developed sensitiveness of his other organs of perception。 As the blind follow and interpret their Braille characters with deft fingers； so Tarzan reads the book of the jungle with feet and hands and eyes and ears and nose； each contributing its share to the quick and accurate translation of the text。
But again he was doomed to be thwarted by one vital weaknesshe did not know the gryf； and before the night was over he wondered if the things never slept； for wheresoever he moved they moved also； and always they barred his road to liberty。 Finally； just before dawn； he relinquished his immediate effort and sought rest in a friendly tree crotch in the safety of the middle terrace。
Once again was the sun high when Tarzan awoke； rested and refreshed。 Keen to the necessities of the moment he made no effort to locate his jailers lest in the act he might apprise them of his movements。 Instead he sought cautiously and silently to melt away among the foliage of the trees。 His first move； however； was heralded by a deep bellow from below。
Among the numerous refinements of civilization that Tarzan had failed to acquire was that of profanity； and possibly it is to be regretted since there are circumstances under which it is at least a relief to pent emotion。 And it may be that in effect Tarzan resorted to profanity if there can be physical as well as vocal swearing； since immediately the bellow announced that his hopes had been again frustrated； he turned quickly and seeing the hideous face of the gryf below him seized a large fruit from a nearby branch and hurled it viciously at the horned snout。 The missile struck full between the creature's eyes； resulting in a reaction that surprised the ape…man； it did not arouse the beast to a show of revengeful rage as Tarzan had expected and hoped； instead the creature gave a single vicious side snap at the fruit as it bounded from his skull and then turned sulkily away； walking off a few steps。
There was that in the act that recalled immediately to Tarzan's mind similar action on the preceding day when the Tor…o…don had struck one of the creatures across the face with his staff； and instantly there sprung to the cunning and courageous brain a plan of escape from his predicament that might have blanched the cheek of the most heroic。
The gambling instinct is not strong among creatures of the wild； the chances of their daily life are sufficient stimuli for the beneficial excitement of their nerve centers。 It has remained for civilized man； protected in a measure from the natural dangers of existence； to invent artificial stimulants in the form of cards and dice and roulette wheels。 Yet when necessity bids there are