Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 153: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘drohahkis,” he said. 782 - florensal drew Talaskar to the foot of the throne. “‘ And now for myself I ask a boon, Aden- ‘* As Zertolosto, I am bound by custom to wed a prisoner princess taken from another city; but in this slave girl have I found the one I love. Let me renounce my. rights to the throne and have her instead.” . Talaskar raised her hand as if to demur, but Komodoflorensal would not let her speak, and then Adendrohahkis arose and descended the steps at the foot of which Talaskar stood and, taking her by the hand, led her to a place beside the throne. “ You are bound by custom only, Komo- doflorensal,”’ he said, “ to wed a princess, but custom is not law. A Trohanadal- makusian may wed whom he pleases.” “ And even though he were bound by Jaw,” said Talaskar, “ to wed a princess, still might he wed me, for I am the daughter of Talaskhago, King of Mandalamakus. My mother was captured by the Veltoptisma- kusians but a few moons before my birth, which took place in the very chamber in which Komodoflorensal found me. “She charged me to take my life before mating with any one less than a prince, but I would have forgotten her teachings had Komodoflorensal been but the son of a slave. “That he was the son of a king I did “not dream until the night we left Veltop- tismakus, and I had already given him my heart long before, although he did not know it.” Weeks passed, and still no change came to Tarzan of the Apes. He was happy in his life with the Minunians, but he longed for his own people and the’ mate who would be grieving for him, and so he determined to set forth as he was, pass through ‘the thorn forest, and make his way toward home, trusting to chance that he might es- cape the countless dangers that would in- fest his way. Perhaps he would come to his normal size somewhere during the long journey. His friends sought to dissuade him, but he was determined, and at last, brooking no further delay, he set out toward the southeast in the direction that he thought. - the thorn forest. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, lay the point where he had entered the land of the Minuni. A kamak, a body consist- ing of one thousand mounted warriors, ac- companied him to the great forest, and there, after some days’ delay, the son of the First Woman found him. The Minunians bade him good-by, and as he watched them ride away upon their graceful meunts some- thing arose in his throat that only came upon those few occasions in his life that Tarzan of the Apes knew the meaning of homesickness. . The son of the First Woman and his savage band escorted Tarzan to the edge of Farther than that they could not go. A:‘moment later they saw him _ disappear among the thorns, with a wave of farewell to them. For two days Tarzan, no larger than a Minunian, made his way through the thorn forest. He met small animals that now were large enough to be dangerous to him, but he met nothing that he could not cope with. By night he slept in the underground dens of the larger burrowing animals.- Birds and eggs formed his food supply. l During the second night he awoke with ; a feeling of nausea suffusing him. A pre- monition of danger assailed him. It was dark as the grave in the burrow he had se- lected for the night. Suddenly the thought smote him that he might be about to pass through the ordeal of regaining his normal stature. To have this thing happen while he lay buried in this tiny burrow would mean death, for he would be crushed or suffocated before he re- gained consciousness. ~ Already he felt dizzy, as one might feel who was upon the verge of unconsciousness. He stumbled to his knees and clawed his way up the steep acclivity that led to the surface. time? . He stumbled on, and then, abruptly, a burst of fresh night air smote his nostrils. He staggered to his feet. He was out! He was free! Would he be able to reach it in ~ Behind him he heard a low growl. Grasp- ing his sword, he lunged forward among the thorn trees. How far he went, or in what direction, he did not know, but as he ran he instinctively tore his clothing from his i * GOMIIG oOo <SE C@