But when Kerchak spoke to her about it, Kala threatened to run away from the tribe. They did not wish to lose her, and so they bothered her no more. By the time Tarzan was ten years old he was an excellent climber and could do many wonderful things. [Illustration] Tarzan was fully as strong as the average man of thirty, and far more agile. Day by day his strength was increasing. His life among these fierce apes had been happy. He was nearly ten before he began to realize that a great difference existed between himself and his fellows. [Illustration] In the higher land that the tribe frequented was a little lake. Here it was that Tarzan first saw his face in the clear, still waters of its bosom. He was appalled! He turned red with shame as he compared his face and naked body with his more fortunate brother's. [Illustration] So intent was he upon this personal appraisement of his features that he did not hear the parting of the tall grass behind him as a great body pushed itself stealthily through the jungle. Not thirty paces behind the two she crouched--Sabor, the huge lioness--lashing her tail. [Illustration] Cautiously she moved a great padded paw forward, noiselessly placing it before she lifted the next. Thus she advanced--a great cat preparing to spring upon its prey. An instant she paused. Then with an awful scream--voiced to freeze her victim in a paralysis of terror--she sprang! [Illustration] The little ape crouched tremblingly. Not so Tarzan, the man-child. Before him lay the deep waters of the little lake--behind him certain death! Tarzan had always hated water. He could not swim. But before the great beast had covered half her leap, Tarzan felt the chill waters close above him. [Illustration] Rapidly he moved his hands and feet. Soon his nose was above water. Sabor was intently watching. Tarzan raised his voice in the tribal call of distress. Presently fifty great apes swung rapidly toward the scene. Then Sabor disappeared quickly into the brush and Tarzan was assisted to dry land by some of his ape friends. [Illustration] Tarzan had early learned to form ropes by twisting and tying long grasses together. By constant experimenting, he learned to tie rude knots and make sliding nooses. Then, with painstaking practice, he learned the art of roping. He would catch some playfellow thus, to the other apes' unlimited amusement. [Illustration] To Tarzan the closed and silent cabin was always a source of never-ending mystery and pleasure. His own connection with the cabin had never been told him. Kala had explained vaguely that his father had been a strange white ape. He didn't know that Kala was not his own mother. [Illustration]