TARZAN ESCAPES

as told in the Big Little Book

Chapter Sixteen - Home

The great apes swung through the trees on their homeward way. Tarzan and Jane walked as Eric went back with them the only one remaining of the three white people.

They traveled mostly in silence, sorrowing over the death of Rita, the cruelty of Major Fry.

"He got what he deserved," Eric spoke his thoughts suddenly.

"Yes," Jane said, following his meaning. "He did. But, poor Rita — "

"Bad — woman," said Tarzan, closing the subject.

Overhead the apes began a joyful chattering. One dropped down directly in front of Tarzan. He was deep in thought and paid little attention. But Jane stopped to caress the chimpanzee.

"Tarzan," she demanded his immediate attention, "It's Cheetah!"

Tarzan stopped and held open his arms.

"Cheetah!"

Jibbering and jabbering she rode the remainder of the distance upon his shoulder. Into the peaceful place they came.

"Home!" said Tarzan.

"Home!" Jane echoed warmly, lovingly.

Some of their happiness communicated itself to Eric. He, too, felt the sense of rest and enjoyment. In the days that followed, Eric came to love this home of Tarzan's more and more.

"I — I almost hate to think of leaving, Jane," he said wistfully.

Jane caressed a little cub.

"Then — stay," Jane suggested.

"I can't You know I can't. But I don't want to say good-bye. Come with me, Jane."

Jane tossed a dry stick into the nearby stream.

"Away it goes — out to sea," she smiled at Eric. "We've all got to go our own ways, Eric. Civilization, or what passes for civilization, is not for me. I'm happy."

"Jane!" Tarzan called, from the branches of a tree, and Jane clambered up to him.

"Look," he said.

Jane followed the direction, then called excitedly down to Eric.

"The canoes are coming, Eric," she cried. "Our signals were seen all right."

A group of native dug-out canoes came down the river. In the stern of the first sat a white man.

"Good luck, Eric!" Jane kissed him. Tarzan took his hand. With Cheetah on his shoulder, he and Jane retired to the trees.

Cheetah kissed Tarzan soundly.

"We're not going away, Cheetah!" Jane laughed happily.

Quietly Eric greeted the white man.

The voice of the jungle spoke, bathed in a flood of sunlight.

Good-bye," chirped the birds.

"Good-bye," came the murmur of distant animals.

Tarzan and Jane watched till Eric was out of sight.

"Jane — happy?" asked Tarzan.

"Jane — happy!" she answered.

  The End