The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Return of Tharn, by Howard Carleton Browne

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Title: The Return of Tharn

Author: Howard Carleton Browne

Release Date: August 24, 2010 [EBook #33529]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RETURN OF THARN ***

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TRANSCRIBERS NOTE: This etext was produced from Amazing Stories October,
November and December 1948. Extensive research did not uncover any
evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.

The RETURN of THARN

By HOWARD BROWNE

[Illustration: Maddened and in pain from the flames, the lion sprang
over the burning stockade]

When Tharn set out to rescue his beloved Dylara, he did not dream
the whole Cro-Magnon world opposed him

Trakor, youthful member of the tribe of Gerdak, moved at a swinging trot
along a winding game trail that led to the caves of his people. Through
occasional rifts in the matted mazes of branches, leafs, creepers and
vines of the semi-tropical forest and jungle, rays of the late afternoon
sun dappled the dusty elephant path under his naked feet.

His slim young body, clothed only by the pelt of Jalok, the panther,
twisted about his loins, was bathed in perspiration, for both heat and
humidity were intense here in the heart of primeval jungle. From time
to time he transferred the flint-tipped spear to his left hand while he
rubbed dry the sweating palm of his right against his loin cloth; for a
slippery spear shaft could mean the difference between life and death in
a battle with some savage denizen of this untamed world.

Trakor was beginning to worry. There was less than an hour of daylight
remaining and he was still a long way from home. The thought of spending
even a small portion of a night alone in a territory that abounded in
lions, panthers, leopards and the other fearsome creatures of forest and
plain, sent shivers of dread coursing along his spine.

And there was no one but himself to blame for this predicament!