Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Jungle Battles
Thelanguageoftheapeshadsofewwordsthattheycouldtalkbutlittleofwhattheyhadseeninthecabin,havingnowordstoaccuratelydescribeeitherthestrangepeopleortheirbelongings,andso,longbeforeTarzanwasoldenoughtounderstand,thesubjecthadbeenforgottenbythetribe.
Onlyinadim,vaguewayhadKalaexplainedtohimthathisfatherhadbeenastrangewhiteape,buthedidnotknowthatKalawasnothisownmother.
Onthisday,then,hewentdirectlytothedoorandspenthoursexaminingitandfussingwiththehinges,theknobandthelatch.Finallyhestumbledupontherightcombination,andthedoorswungcreakinglyopenbeforehisastonishedeyes.
Forsomeminuteshedidnotdareventurewithin,butfinally,ashiseyesbecameaccustomedtothedimlightoftheinteriorheslowlyandcautiouslyentered.
Inthemiddleofthefloorlayaskeleton,everyvestigeoffleshgonefromthebonestowhichstillclungthemildewedandmolderedremnantsofwhathadoncebeenclothing.Uponthebedlayasimilargruesomething,butsmaller,whileinatinycradlenear-bywasathird,aweemiteofaskeleton.
TononeoftheseevidencesofafearfultragedyofalongdeaddaydidlittleTarzangivebutpassingheed.Hiswildjunglelifehadinuredhimtothesightofdeadanddyinganimals,andhadheknownthathewaslookingupontheremainsofhisownfatherandmotherhewouldhavebeennomoregreatlymoved.
