Tarzan 32-09-26 (11) Tarzan's Shack

Summary

Podcast Summary: “Tarzan 32-09-26 (11) Tarzan's Shack”

Harold's Old Time Radio | September 28, 2025
Hosted by: Harold’s Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode of Harold’s Old Time Radio features an action-packed installment from the classic radio adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes. Set in the untamed jungle and aboard a ship in peril, the story unfolds with Tarzan’s dramatic intervention in saving Captain Tracy from a deadly lion attack, followed by mounting suspense as Jane, Clayton, and Professor Porter face grave danger due to treacherous antagonists.

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Key Discussion Points & Plot Developments

1. Tarzan Rescues Captain Tracy

• High Stakes in the Jungle (00:32 – 02:45)

  • Tarzan observes Captain Tracy lost and helpless amidst dense jungle undergrowth.

  • Tracy is stalked by Numa the Lion, described vividly with, “a tawny shadow… Numa the lion crouched for a spring…” (00:37).

  • As the lion is about to pounce, Tarzan intervenes with “swift, steady fingers,” shooting an arrow, momentarily halting the beast.

  • When the lion persists, Tarzan heroically drops from a tree, engages in a ferocious struggle, and kills Numa with his knife.

    “Tarzan’s mighty right arm encircles the beast’s neck… Slowly, with sinew-tearing strength, he pulls the great head backward… Suddenly, Tarzan’s knife flashes…” (02:07)

  • Tarzan prevails and gives the iconic victory cry.

  • Tracy, in awe, thanks Tarzan:

    "You saved my life. It was, well, all but unbelievable. My name is Tracy." (02:42)

• Language Barrier and Trust (02:45 – 04:30)

  • Tarzan tries communicating, but Tracy doesn’t understand his language.
  • Tarzan attempts to guide the disoriented Tracy, eventually hoisting him onto his shoulder and carrying him through the trees for his safety.

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2. On the Ship: Danger for Jane, Clayton, and Professor Porter

• Pursued by Betrayers (04:56 – 07:00)

  • Jane, Clayton, and Professor Porter (the "aft trio") try to hide from Yont and Snipes.

  • The villains discuss their scheme to ensure the survival of no witnesses by flooding the compartment instead of merely marooning them.

    Snipes hesitates: "Can't we just maroon them someplace? …sort of give them a run for their alley." (06:13)

    Yont retorts: “With them alive, our name’ll be carved on every gallows in the country. If we get them out of the way, get the treasure, scuttle the old tub, we’re away clean.” (06:27)

• Locked and Flooded (07:00 – 09:25)

  • The heroes find themselves trapped in a locked compartment as water begins to rise ominously.

  • Attempts to distract themselves with wit and small talk show their anxiety:

    Professor Porter, referencing the rats: “Desert. It’s an ill omen, they say…” (08:43)
    Clayton exclaims: “This compartment is being flooded!” (08:47)

  • In panic, Clayton tries to open the door but realizes,

    “That door… It’s bolted on the other side.” (09:25)

  • Jane and the others begin to fear the worst as the water rises around their knees.

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3. Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• The Tension of the Lion Attack

  “…his body sinks lower, crouching for that terrific deadly spring. Lower, lower. Inch by inch, lower… Suddenly, Tarzan’s knife flashes…” (00:37 – 02:15)

• Villainous Plan Unfolds

  “Open that sea cock, they’ll drown like rat. ...With them alive, our name’ll be carved on every gallows in the country.” (06:10 – 06:27)

• Desperation in Confinement

  Jane: “Oh, don’t bother. I’m well up to my knees now. Hurry, knock on the door.” (09:35)
  Clayton: “Here, take it. Here’s the dark. Right. They’ll hear this.” (09:39)
  Professor Porter: “You mean we’re locked in?” (09:26)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:32 — Start of Tarzan’s rescue of Tracy
• 02:07 — Hand-to-hand combat with the lion
• 02:42 — Tracy’s gratitude and language confusion
• 04:56 — Jane, Clayton, and Porter attempt to escape
• 06:10 — The villains’ plot to drown the heroes revealed
• 08:47 — Realization that the compartment is flooding
• 09:25 — Discovery that the door is bolted; panic intensifies

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Overall Tone and Style

The episode maintains a high level of suspense and adventure, typical of Golden Age radio drama, with dramatic narration, quick dialogue exchanges, and atmospheric sound effects contributing to the immersion. Characters speak in early 20th-century idioms, alternating between moments of bravado, wit, and genuine fear.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of "Tarzan's Shack" is a classic blend of jungle action and shipboard intrigue. Tarzan’s heroics and the daring villainy of Yont and Snipes create ongoing tension, while the imperiled trio’s plight leaves listeners anticipating their fate in the next episode. The dialogue and pacing exemplify the excitement and serialized suspense of old-time radio storytelling.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Another episode from Edgar Riceborough's startling book Tarzan of the Apes. Swinging with easy grace and miraculous speed, Tarzan soon comes upon Captain Tracy hopelessly lost in the maze of undergrowth. Silently, unseen, Tarzan looks down upon the man and pities his inadequacy. A slight movement in the tall grass behind Tracy catches Tarzan's eye. A tawny shadow. Numa the lion crouched for a spring, his sinewy legs drawn deep under him, his lean body low, yellow fangs bared, lips twisted in a fearful, soundless snarl. His body sinks lower, crouching for that terrific deadly spring. Lower, lower. Inch by inch, lower. In a moment there'll be a roaring snarl, a mangled body. Lower. Lower. With swift, steady fingers, Tarzan snatches an arrow from his quiver, fits it into the bowstring. With bow pulled taut, Tarzan waits. The lion's eyes glow. His body is tense, ready. Slowly the merciless yellowish green eyes close as a huge dripping mouth opens. Pneuma snarls. Tracy whirls, pulling to the base of snarling death. Tracy screams. Tis a moment of deadly tension. Numa springs where the lithe muscular body launches itself. An arrow flies from thousands bow, plunges deep into Pneuma's side. For a moment the charges stop, but only for a moment. Numa turns, snaps. With the arrow buried in his lean side, Tracy starts to run, stumbles, crawls, and Pneuma, in a agony of pain and rage, swirls around sentences for one more terrific spring upon the poor man. Crazy crawls, rolls, digs his fingers deep into the earth to drag his thoughts of safety. It's no use. Numa springs like a plummet. Oz then drops from a tree, rams upon the hurling beast in mid air, his fingers crunching the infuriated mouse shaggy mane. They twist in the air, fall. Tarzan's mighty right arm encircles the beast's neck. The giant paws strike out. Tarzan clings to the brutish neck. Slowly, with sinew tearing strength, he pulls the great head backward, twisting, snarling, clawing backward, backwards. Suddenly Tarzan's knife flashes. Plunges with terrific force into the side of the lion. Again and again and again. Slowly, the great muscles of the lion relax. The. The yellowish green fire fades from his eyes. The great head goes loose in Tarzan's grasp. Numa is dead. Dropping the dead lion, Tarzan throws back his head, beats his chest as he sends echoing through the jungle his cry of triumph. The cry of the victor. Tarzan, the mighty hunter, has made a kill. Thanks. Thanks, old man. You. You saved my life. It was, well, all but unbelievable. My name is Tracy. Numa bundo. Tarant. Ganny. Harzan. Bundalo. Numa. Numa bun. I don't understand. Numa bundalo. Tarmani. I'm sorry, old man, but English is the only language I know. Tarzan studies Tracy curiously. Slowly, he walks around him. Finally, Tracy starts off, motioning Tarzan to follow him. Tarzan realizes that the man is going in the direction away from which he came. He grasps Tracy's arm to lead him in the opposite direction. Certain that he's right, Tracy starts off again in the wrong direction. This time, Tarzan takes from his leopard skin girdle the green jade bottle and thrusts it into Tracy's hand. Tracy is amazed. And then he's aghast. With a swift gesture, Tarzan grabs Tracy, hoists him to his shoulder. Tracy struggles futilely and then relaxes. Certainly this forest man who saved his life at the risk of his own, has no intent other than for good. Tracy is appalled. Tarzan leaps, grasp the lower branch of a tree. Up, up he leaps from branch to branch. In a moment, they're sweeping along with incredible speed. Meanwhile, Clayton, Jane and Professor Porter are stealthily making their way aft, where they intend to hide themselves from Yont, believing they'll be safe. Unknown to them, Yont and Snipes are following.

[C]

I. I thought I heard somebody following us.

[B]

I, too heard something. Come on, hurry along. It's just through this next bulkhead. Stay where you are or I'll show. Run for it. Take Jane's other arm, Professor. Come on. Set aside in here.

[C]

Shut the door.

[B]

What happen? Give me a hand with this door. Tell. What the matter with you, Snipes? Can't you hit anything? Well, they mind it. Fine marksmanship. Fine marksmanship. Snipes. 45, 90 is a handler. Ah, you couldn't hit him with a machine gun. What are we going to do? We ain't got a chance of getting through that door, nor of them getting out. There's a latch on both sides. Fasten the bolt. Hey, chief, what's the lie? Am I supposed to sit on my Ditty bag doing nothing but waiting for them to get ready to come out. They aren't coming out. Oh, yeah, that's pretty raw, ain't it? Letting the dime starve to death. They aren't going to starve to death. Open that sea cock, they'll drown like red. Why, I ain't soft or nothing, but. Well, can't we just maroon them someplace? You know, sort of give them a run for their alley. Don't be a fool, Snipes. With them alive, our name will be carved on every gallows in the country. If we get them out of the way, get the treasure, scuttle the old tub, we're away clean. Sure, that's all right for the guy in the old geyser, but what about the dime? Yon baby? When I want any suggestions from you Snipes, I'll ask for them. Crack that valve and come on. I want to get ashore and hunt down Gracie. I stuck my head in the noose for a treasure and I'm not gonna be cheated out of it. Nobody ever cheated you out of nothing yet. But if you sigh. Turn it. I'll turn it. Turn it. She's on full as far as she'll go. That ends three of our worries. Come along. Have you a match, Professor? There ought to be a lamp in here somewhere.

[C]

Something just ran over my foot.

[B]

A rodent of some sort, no doubt.

[C]

Hurry, Mr. Clayton, put on the light.

[B]

Ah, here are some matches. Always the last pocket in which one looks.

[C]

There's a lamp over there.

[B]

What luck show. This is great luck. Lamps full.

[C]

Don't. The place is alive with rats.

[B]

Ah, rather an ancient and fish like smell. If I make poo. Shakespeare. Imagine that beast yacht firing on a wall.

[C]

Oh, this is terrible.

[B]

I've been thinking it over, Clayton. The best thing for us to do is to go out, face them and offer to do anything. Anything in return for their word to give Jane safe passage to the next port. Their word? What good will that do them?

[C]

You nasty little eyes.

[B]

By George, look, look, look. They're carrying. Half of them are gone already.

[C]

Thank heaven. What in the world are you supposed to gather them off that way when.

[B]

Rats. Dessert. It's an ill omen, they say. Oh, look. What? This compartment is being flooded.

[C]

Oh, let's get horror Faith.

[B]

They're going to flood us out. Open the door, Creighton.

[C]

No, I'm standing in water now.

[B]

Well, you might as well go out and face it when I open the. Stand back.

[C]

Oh, look at he's like. Open it.

[B]

All right. Stand back, Professor. The door must be stuck. Put your shoulder to it. All right now. One, two, three. That door isn't Cap Clayton. It's bolted on the other side.

[C]

You mean we're locked in?

[B]

Oh, now don't worry. We'll pound on the door and they'll open up. Hand me that bar over there. Oh, Jane.

[C]

Yes, yes.

[B]

Let me help you up on the pipe there so you can get your feet shot.

[C]

Oh, don't bother. I'm well up to my knees now. Hurry. Knock on the door.

[B]

Here, take it. Here's the dark. Right. They'll hear this.

[C]

Oh, surely you need to open the door.

[B]

Of course, of course. That's funny. They don't hunt. Jun. Jun, open the door. Jean, you here.

[C]

Open the door.

[B]

You can't let him crowd like this.

[C]

Y Y.