TARZAN ESCAPES

as told in the Big Little Book

Chapter Thirteen - Vampires

The safari pushed onward onward over rocky ledges and through the torturous jungle ways, coming at length, into swampland. Through a heavy mist they struggled on into this graveyard of nature. The short, stubby trees seemed to be stunted and devoid of all life. Crocodiles lingered in the slime-covered pools.

The safari showed the marks of a long and arduous trip. No one spoke, except Bomba, and his voice was raised only in a snarl as he drove the carriers. But Tarzan, in the lead, plodded on with unrelenting determination.

At last Major Fry voiced the general weariness.

"Tarzan," he worked his way to the leader's side, "Hadn't we better call a halt stop? The men are all tired."

"Soon," Tarzan returned, but he did not relax the pace.

Eric looked uneasily about him.

"Seems to be something strange about this place," he said nervously.

"So awfully quiet," Jane shivered. "I know," she hit upon the reason, "it's because there's no sound of birds animals or even insects. I wonder what drives them away."

"Might be haunted," Eric spoke in an attempted jest.

"This is the first time in Africa that I haven't been able to see some hint of a bird," Jane puzzled. "I wonder ."

Now Tarzan paused a moment.

The caravan had now reached a dismal place. The black, lifeless trees leaning at all angles seemed like ominous symbols of mourning and warning.

Major Fry peered ahead into the mist-shrouded swamp, and shook his head.

For a moment Rita forgot her role of invalid. Her fear overcoming her caution, she rose up on the litter and cried out in terror.

"Oh, what is it?"

Major Fry came to her side.

"Nothing to be alarmed about yet," he sought to calm her fears.

"Lie back. " he put a particular meaning into the words, and Rita resumed her attitude of intense suffering.

Tarzan looked back at Rita.

"I go," he said. "Wait."

And he stepped forward into the unknown terrors of the swamp.

"Tarzan!" Jane cried. "Wait for me!"

She stepped down into the clinging mud.

"Easy there, Jane." Eric held her carefully, "If you're going, so am I." He called to the natives to follow. Slowly, fearfully, they obeyed. Now they all gathered close beside the gnarled stump of a dead tree.

All of a sudden one of the natives gave a terrifying scream.

"Oh, what os it?" Jane cried, frightened. "What is the matter?"

Gibbering with fear, the native crouched deep in the mud for protection, pointing up to the sky.

Tarzan's hand flew to his knife.

Twisting about he followed the direction of the sobbing native. A giant, horrible thing had enveloped him, shawl-like, around his shoulder, bearing him deeper into the mire.

Like a flash, Tarzan came to the side of the attacked man. With Bomba's help, he battled the horrible creature. Despite the united of the two men, there was a tremendous struggle. Tarzan's knife struck blow upon blow. At last they held up the limp body.

A giant vampire!

Standing by Rita's litter, Major Fry showed the first signs of fear as Tarzan held up the terrifying and loathsome thing.

"Vampires!" he said, moistening his lips nervously.

Rita grasped his shoulder in alarm.

"Vampires!" she echoed the word with a scream of terror.

The safari collected in a group about the litter. Waving their spears and clubs they sought to battle off the vampires, which now, with ugly, screaching sounds, were fluttering upon them.

Eric and Jane clung to each other, gazing upward, unable to move in their terror.

Suddenly a vampire swooped up Jane. Tarzan rushed to defend her.

"Major!" Rita screamed in horror.

A vampire now attacked the litter. Shouting and waving their clubs, Major Fry and the natives fought it off.

Tarzan and Bomba had battled the creatured that attacked Jane forcing it off. Now the vampire renewed the attack, directly upon Tarzan.

It came closer, seemingly impervious to the knife thrusts. At last, with a powerful swing, Tarzan caught the thing in the throat.

But, generally, the vampires were gaining. The situation looked hopeless as the vampires settled in a thick swarm.

Suddenly a tremendous hubbub was heard.

In the light of flaring torches, the Pigmy natives advanced.