READ THE NOVEL- Chapters 1-31 - ERBzine

Tarzan on Mars
XXVII
INTO THE ABYSS
AS Thum advanced swiftly toward Tarzan, Kar Komak
seemed to be oblivious of what was transpiring. He still
stared into emptiness as though struck dumb with his
thought, his forehead a glistening mass of perspiration.
The other prisoners in the dungeon, being unarmed,
were helpless to be of assistance. However, after having been
told that Tarzan was Tharos Pthan, and after having witnessed
his demonstration of superhuman strength at the
barred window, they wondered for the moment if, indeed,
such a man would need any assistance at all, even against
such a stupendous beast as Thum.
Tarzan immediately placed before his mind's eye his
precious goal, so near above him on top of the Escarpment,
which served to sharpen his instinct of self-preservation. And
so it was that before his titanic antagonist reached him, he
charged with a beastly roar which set the red men's spines to
tingling and startled Kar Komak out of his trance.
The latter saw the apeman slam a devastating blow into
the pit of Thum's stomach, which the Lotharian knew would
have killed a giant white ape. Thum staggered back heavily,
grunting in pain, taken completely by surprise, yet he did not
fall. Before he could gather himself for a counter-charge,
Tarzan was upon him again, this time with a quick leg-trip
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