Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

282 work upon you to reduce your stature, us- ing apparatus that he has built himself. I have heard them discussing it and they say that it did not take him over long.” ‘I hope that Zoanthrohago has the power to undo that which he has done,” said the ape-man. “They say that that is doubtful. He has never been able to make a creature larger than it formerly was, although in his nu- merous experiments he has reduced the size of many of the lower animals. The fact of the matter is,” continued Aoponato, “that he has been searching for a means to enlarge the Veltoptismakusians so that they may overcome all the other peoples of Minuni, but he has only succeeded in developing a method that gives precisely opposite results from that which they seek, so, if he cannot make others larger, I doubt if he can make you any larger than you are now.” ‘TI would be rather helpless among the enemies of my own world,” said Tarzan, ruefully. “You need not worry about that, my friend,” said the prince gently. “ Why?” asked the ape-man. “ Because your chances of reaching your own world again are virtually non-existent,” said Komodoflorensal, a trifle sadly. “I have no hope of ever seeing Trohanadal- makus again. Only by the utter overthrow of Veltoptismakus by my father’s warriors could I hope for rescue, since nothing less could overcome the gnard in the quarry mouth, “While we often capture slaves of the white tunic from the enemies’ cities, it is seldom that we gather in any of the green tunic. Only in the rare cases of utter sur- prise attacks by daylight do any of us catch an enemy’s green slaves above ground, and surprise day attacks may occur once in the lifetime ofa man, or never.” “You believe that we will spend the rest of our lives in this underground hole?” de- manded Tarzan. “ Unless we chance to be used for labor above ground during the daytime, occa- sionally,” replied Komodoflorensal. The ape-man shrugged. “ We shall see,” he said. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. After Kalfastoban had left, Caraitap had limped away to the far end of the chamber, muttering to himself, his ugly face black and scowling. , “I am afraid that he will make you trou- ble,” Talaskar said to Tarzan, indicating the disgruntled slave with a nod of her shapely head, ‘“‘ and I am sorry, for it is all my fault.” ‘Your fault?” demanded Komodofloren- sal. “Yes,” said the girl. “ Caraftap was threatening me when Aopontando interfered and punished him.” ‘Your fault?” demanded Komodofloren- sal. ‘“ That is my number,” explained Tarzan. “And it was on account of Talaskar that you were fighting? I thank you, my friend. I am sorry that I was not here to protect her. Talaskar cooks forme. She is a good girl.” Komodoflorensal was looking at the girl as he spoke and Tarzan saw how her eyes lowered beneath his gaze and the delicate flush that mounted her cheeks, and he realized that he was down-wind from an idea, and smiled. ‘“So this is the Aoponato of whom you told me?” he said to Talaskar. ‘Yes, this is he.” “Tam sorry that he was captured, but it is good to find a friend here,” said the ape-man. ‘‘ We three should be able to hit upon some plan of escape,” but the twain shook their heads, smiling sadly. For a while, after they had eaten, they sat talking together, being joined occa- sionally by other slaves, for Tarzan had many friends here now since he had chas- tised Caraftap, and they would have talked all night had not the ape-man questioned Komodoflorensal as to the sleeping ar- rangements of the slaves. Komodoflorensal laughed, and pointed here and there about the chamber at re- cumbent figures lying upon the hard earthen floor; men, women and children sleeping, for the most part, where they had eaten their evening meal. “The green slaves are not pampered,” he remarked laconically. “1 can sleep anywhere,” said Tarzan, COMIC oOo KS (FE)