at stalked one by day
and by night; of the periods of drought, and of the cataclysmic rains;
of hunger; of cold; of intense heat; of nakedness and fear and
suffering. He told him of all those things that seem most horrible to
the creature of civilization in the hope that the knowledge of them
might expunge from the lad's mind any inherent desire for the jungle.
Yet they were the very things that made the memory of the jungle what
it was to Tarzan--that made up the composite jungle life he loved. And
in the telling he forgot one thing--the principal thing--that the boy
at his side, listening with eager ears, was the son of Tarzan of the
Apes.

After the boy had been tucked away in bed--and without the threatened
punishment--John Clayton told his wife of the events of the evening,
and that he had at last acquainted the boy with the facts of his jungle
life. The mother, who had long foreseen that her son must some time
know of those frightful years during which his father had roamed the
jungle, a naked, savage beast of prey, only shook her head, hoping
against hope that the lure she knew was still strong in the father's
breast had not been transmitted to his son.

Tarzan visited Akut the following day, but though Jack begged to be
allowed to accompany him he was refused. This time Tarzan saw the
pock-marked old owner of the ape, whom he did not recognize as the wily
Paulvitch of former days. Tarzan, influenced by Akut's pleadings,
broached the question of the ape's purchase; but Paulvitch would not
name any price, saying that he would consider the matter.

When Tarzan returned home Jack was all excitement to hear the details
of his visit, and finally suggested that his father buy the ape and
bring it home. Lady Greystoke was horrified at the suggestion. The
boy was insistent. Tarzan explained that he had wished to purchase
Akut and return him to his jungle home, and to this the mother
assented. Jack asked to be allowed to visit the ape, but again he was
met with flat refusal. He had the address, however, which the trainer
had given his father, and two days later he found the opportunity to
elude his new tutor--who had replaced the terrified Mr. Moore--and
after a considerable search through a section of London which he had
never before visited, he found the smelly little quarters of the
pock-marked old man. The old fellow himself replied to his knocking,
and when he stated that he had come to see Ajax, opened