Ere Tarzan could prevent the creature had struck the ape-man's
companion a blow upon the head with his knotted club that felled
him, unconscious, to the earth; but before he could inflict further
injury upon his defenseless prey the ape-man had closed with him.
Instantly Tarzan realized that he was locked with a creature of
almost superhuman strength. The sinewy fingers of a powerful hand
sought his throat while the other lifted the bludgeon above his
head. But if the strength of the hairy attacker was great, great
too was that of his smooth-skinned antagonist. Swinging a single
terrific blow with clenched fist to the point of the other's chin,
Tarzan momentarily staggered his assailant and then his own fingers
closed upon the shaggy throat, as with the other hand he seized the
wrist of the arm that swung the club. With equal celerity he shot
his right leg behind the shaggy brute and throwing his weight forward
hurled the thing over his hip heavily to the ground, at the same
time precipitating his own body upon the other's chest.
With the shock of the impact the club fell from the brute's hand
and Tarzan's hold was wrenched from its throat. Instantly the two
were locked in a deathlike embrace. Though the creature bit at
Tarzan the latter was quickly aware that this was not a particularly
formidable method of offense or defense, since its canines were scarcely
more developed than his own.
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