"You have wounded my feelings to the very core.
I'll admit that I am weak in this instance. Very weak indeed. But this
is the first time that my courage has ever been assailed by anyone, and
to have you above all persons, openly insinuate that I am a coward is
far worse than having inflicted upon me the cruelest tortures of the
Ape-man's prospective hell. I am only an Apeman, but as I said before, I
love you beyond all power of expression. You no doubt, cannot understand
my puny feelings any more than I can fully comprehend your lofty ideals
or the full meaning of your higher knowledge of things. The very
greatest hardship for me to undergo would be to live after you have
passed away. But, if by the promise of so doing I can gain your respect
and one encouraging look or word of approval, I will not only rescind
the text of my previous statement and live, but I swear to you in the
name of the Creator of the law which governs all things, that I shall
strictly follow to the letter any instructions you may wish to offer
concerning my future movements, no matter what they might be. So make my
task a hard one, for the courage you so unfeelingly attacked must be
tested to its full limits. I am ready to obey your commands."
Having thus addressed Arletta, I straightened myself up to my full
height with as much dignity as I could assume, folded my arms across my
chest and awaited her orders.
"The Sagemen never urged their desires by a command," replied Arletta,
"they simply requested that which they would like to have done.
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