#edgarriceburroughs - Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs - August 21, 2025 -

 August 21, 2025 and on this day eighty-one years ago in 1944, the Rex Maxon written and illustrated Tarzan daily story arc, “The Ivory Hunter,” began. It ran for 44 days. This was not the first time Maxon, who drew the strip for over 18 years had a story line that focused on poachers and it wouldn’t be the last. Do the math Three hundred dailies a year, so about 5400 pages.

The story opens with Tarzan recovering in the arms of Ann Strang, the daughter of one of the ivory hunters. She informs Tarzan that if he doesn’t hunt and kill elephants, he will be killed and she will be beaten. Tarzan makes other plans.

The 100-word drabble for today, “Dane-geld.” Thanks to Rudyard Kipling for his poetic explanation of the result of capitulation to threats eventually works.

“Tarzan,” said Ann. “The ivory hunters will kill you if you don’t find and kill elephants for them. They’ll beat me for not convincing you.”

“Saying yes to open ended threats never satisfies the people making them. If I kill ten elephants, they’ll want twenty. If I kill one hundred, they’ll want two hundred.”

“You’ll die and I’ll be beaten.”

“It it’s within their power. Sooner or later, I’ll have to say no more. Then they’ll try to kill me.”

“You mean that doesn’t make any difference what you do.”

“Ann, it makes a world of difference to the elephants.”