# III: The Fight for the Balu explained — Jungle Tales of Tarzan

> Chapter companion for Jungle Tales of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Teeka becomes a mother, and Tarzan's attempts to see her newborn balu are met with fierce maternal aggression. After a confrontation with Taug, Tarzan uses his rope to hang the bull from a tree. Meanwhile, Sheeta the panther stalks Teeka, and Tarzan intervenes to protect Taug from another ape's attack.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Instinct

Teeka's maternal instinct overrides her friendship with Tarzan; Sheeta's predatory instinct drives him to stalk the balu.

### Love and Affection

Tarzan's yearning to cuddle the balu and his past affection for Teeka contrast with her protective aggression.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Curious and hurt by Teeka's aggression; uses rope to subdue Taug; defends Taug from another ape.

### Teeka

New mother, fiercely protective of her balu, bares fangs at Tarzan and bites him.

### Taug

Father of the balu, charges Tarzan but is caught and hung by the rope.

### Sheeta

Panther that stalks Teeka and her balu from the bushes.

### Mumga

Old, half-blind ape searching for grubworms, viewed suspiciously by Teeka.

## Key lines

> Teeka had become a mother. Tarzan of the Apes was intensely interested, much more so, in fact, than Taug, the father.

Teeka gave birth, and Tarzan was far more curious about the baby than Taug was.

_Highlights Tarzan's fascination with the newborn._

> Tarzan reached forth a hand, cautiously, to touch the thing which Teeka held, and Teeka, with a hideous growl, turned suddenly upon him. Her teeth sank into the flesh of his forearm before the ape-man could snatch it away.

When Tarzan tried to touch the baby, Teeka growled and bit his arm.

_Shows Teeka's fierce maternal defense._

> Tarzan's hand shot suddenly outward, a widening noose dropped swiftly through the air, there was a quick jerk as it settled about Taug, falling to his knees, a jerk that tightened it securely about the hairy legs of the anthropoid.

Tarzan threw his rope and caught Taug around the legs, pulling him off balance.

_Demonstrates Tarzan's skill with the rope._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jungle_tales_of_tarzan_se/chapters/iii-the-fight-for-the-balu
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jungle_tales_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/jungle_tales_of_tarzan_se/chapters