第11章

Ashetraveledhehuntedashehadhuntedwithhisapepeopleinthepast，asKalahadtaughthimtohunt，turningoverrottedlogstofindsometoothsomevermin，runninghighintothetreestorobabird’snest，orpouncinguponatinyrodentwiththequicknessofacat。Therewereotherthingsthatheate，too，butthelessdetailedtheaccountofanape’sdiet，thebetter——andTarzanwasagainanape，thesamefierce，brutalanthropoidthatKalahadtaughthimtobe，andthathehadbeenforthefirsttwentyyearsofhislife。

OccasionallyhesmiledasherecalledsomefriendwhomightevenatthemomentbesittingplacidandimmaculatewithintheprecinctsofhisselectParisianclub——justasTarzanhadsatbutafewmonthsbefore;andthenhewouldstop，asthoughturnedsuddenlytostoneasthegentlebreezecarriedtohistrainednostrilsthescentofsomenewpreyoraformidableenemy。

Thatnighthesleptfarinlandfromhiscabin，securelywedgedintothecrotchofagianttree，swayingahundredfeetabovetheground。Hehadeatenheartilyagain——thistimefromthefleshofBara，thedeer，whohadfallenpreytohisquicknoose。

Earlythenextmorningheresumedhisjourney，alwaysfollowingthecourseofthestream。Forthreedayshecontinuedhisquest，untilhehadcometoapartofthejungleinwhichheneverbeforehadbeen。Occasionallyuponthehighergroundtheforestwasmuchthinner，andinthefardistancethroughthetreeshecouldseerangesofmightymountains，withwideplainsintheforeground。Here，intheopenspaces，werenewgame——countlessantelopeandvastherdsofzebra。Tarzanwasentranced——hewouldmakealongvisittothisnewworld。

Onthemorningofthefourthdayhisnostrilsweresuddenlysurprisedbyafaintnewscent。Itwasthescentofman，butyetalongwayoff。Theape—manthrilledwithpleasure。

Everysensewasonthealertaswithcraftystealthhemovedquicklythroughthetrees，up—wind，inthedirectionofhisprey。Presentlyhecameuponit——alonewarriortreadingsoftlythroughthejungle。

Tarzanfollowedcloseabovehisquarry，waitingforaclearerspaceinwhichtohurlhisrope。Ashestalkedtheunconsciousman，newthoughtspresentedthemselvestotheape—man——thoughtsbornoftherefininginfluencesofcivilization，andofitscruelties。Itcametohimthatseldomifeverdidcivilizedmankillafellowbeingwithoutsomepretext，howeverslight。ItwastruethatTarzanwishedthisman’sweaponsandornaments，butwasitnecessarytotakehislifetoobtainthem？

Thelongerhethoughtaboutit，themorerepugnantbecamethethoughtoftakinghumanlifeneedlessly;andthusithappenedthatwhilehewastryingtodecidejustwhattodo，theyhadcometoalittleclearing，atthefarsideofwhichlayapalisadedvillageofbeehivehuts。

Asthewarrioremergedfromtheforest，Tarzancaughtafleetingglimpseofatawnyhidewormingitswaythroughthemattedjunglegrassesinhiswake——itwasNuma，thelion。

He，too，wasstalkingtheblackman。WiththeinstantthatTarzanrealizedthenative’sdangerhisattitudetowardhiserstwhilepreyalteredcompletely——nowhewasafellowmanthreatenedbyacommonenemy。

Numawasabouttocharge——therewaslittletimeinwhichtocomparevariousmethodsorweightheprobableresultsofany。Andthenanumberofthingshappened，almostsimultaneously——thelionsprangfromhisambushtowardtheretreatingblack——Tarzancriedoutinwarning——andtheblackturnedjustintimetoseeNumahaltedinmid—flightbyaslenderstrandofgrassrope，thenoosedendofwhichhadfallencleanlyabouthisneck。

Theape—manhadactedsoquicklythathehadbeenunabletopreparehimselftowithstandthestrainandshockofNuma’sgreatweightupontherope，andsoitwasthatthoughtheropestoppedthebeastbeforehismightytalonscouldfastenthemselvesinthefleshoftheblack，thestrainoverbalancedTarzan，whocametumblingtothegroundnotsixpacesfromtheinfuriatedanimal。LikelightningNumaturneduponthisnewenemy，and，defenselessashewas，TarzanoftheApeswasnearertodeaththatinstantthanheeverbeforehadbeen。Itwastheblackwhosavedhim。

Thewarriorrealizedinaninstantthatheowedhislifetothisstrangewhiteman，andhealsosawthatonlyamiraclecouldsavehispreserverfromthosefierceyellowfangsthathadbeensoneartohisownflesh。

Withthequicknessofthoughthisspeararmflewback，andthenshotforwardwithalltheforceofthesinewymusclesthatrolledbeneaththeshimmeringebonhide。

Truetoitsmarktheiron—shodweaponflew，transfixingNuma’ssleekcarcassfromtherightgrointobeneaththeleftshoulder。Withahideousscreamofrageandpainthebruteturnedagainupontheblack。AdozenpaceshehadgonewhenTarzan’sropebroughthimtoastandoncemore——

thenhewheeledagainupontheape—man，onlytofeelthepainfulprickofabarbedarrowasitsankhalfitslengthinhisquiveringflesh。Againhestopped，andbythistimeTarzanhadruntwicearoundthestemofagreattreewithhisrope，andmadetheendfast。

Theblacksawthetrick，andgrinned，butTarzanknewthatNumamustbequicklyfinishedbeforethosemightyteethhadfoundandpartedtheslendercordthatheldhim。

Itwasamatterofbutaninstanttoreachtheblack’ssideanddraghislongknifefromitsscabbard。Thenhesignedthewarriortocontinuetoshootarrowsintothegreatbeastwhileheattemptedtocloseinuponhimwiththeknife;soasonetantalizedupononeside，theothersneakedcautiouslyinupontheother。Numawasfurious。Heraisedhisvoiceinaperfectfrenzyofshrieks，growls，andhideousmoans，thewhilehereareduponhishindlegsinfutileattempttoreachfirstoneandthentheotherofhistormentors。

Butatlengththeagileape—mansawhischance，andrushedinuponthebeast’sleftsidebehindthemightyshoulder。

Agiantarmencircledthetawnythroat，andalongbladesankonce，trueasadie，intothefierceheart。ThenTarzanarose，andtheblackmanandthewhitelookedintoeachother’seyesacrossthebodyoftheirkill——andtheblackmadethesignofpeaceandfriendship，andTarzanoftheApesansweredinkind。

Chapter15

FromApetoSavageThenoiseoftheirbattlewithNumahaddrawnanexcitedhordeofsavagesfromthenearbyvillage，andamomentafterthelion’sdeaththetwomenweresurroundedbylithe，ebonwarriors，gesticulatingandjabbering——athousandquestionsthatdrownedeachventuredreply。

Andthenthewomencame，andthechildren——eager，curious，and，atsightofTarzan，morequestioningthanever。

Theape—man’snewfriendfinallysucceededinmakinghimselfheard，andwhenhehaddonetalkingthemenandwomenofthevillageviedwithoneanotherindoinghonortothestrangecreaturewhohadsavedtheirfellowandbattledsingle—handedwithfierceNuma。

Atlasttheyledhimbacktotheirvillage，wheretheybroughthimgiftsoffowl，andgoats，andcookedfood。

Whenhepointedtotheirweaponsthewarriorshastenedtofetchspear，shield，arrows，andabow。HisfriendoftheencounterpresentedhimwiththeknifewithwhichhehadkilledNuma。Therewasnothinginallthevillagehecouldnothavehadfortheasking。

Howmucheasierthiswas，thoughtTarzan，thanmurderandrobberytosupplyhiswants。Howclosehehadbeentokillingthismanwhomheneverhadseenbefore，andwhonowwasmanifestingbyeveryprimitivemeansathiscommandfriendshipandaffectionforhiswould—beslayer。

TarzanoftheApeswasashamed。Hereafterhewouldatleastwaituntilheknewmendeserveditbeforehethoughtofkillingthem。

TheidearecalledRokofftohismind。HewishedthathemighthavetheRussiantohimselfinthedarkjungleforafewminutes。Therewasamanwhodeservedkillingifeveranyonedid。AndifhecouldhaveseenRokoffatthatmomentasheassiduouslybenteveryendeavortothepleasanttaskofingratiatinghimselfintotheaffectionsofthebeautifulMissStrong，hewouldhavelongedmorethanevertometeouttothemanthefatehedeserved。

Tarzan’sfirstnightwiththesavageswasdevotedtoawildorgyinhishonor。Therewasfeasting，forthehuntershadbroughtinanantelopeandazebraastrophiesoftheirskill，andgallonsoftheweaknativebeerwereconsumed。Asthewarriorsdancedinthefirelight，Tarzanwasagainimpressedbythesymmetryoftheirfiguresandtheregularityoftheirfeatures——theflatnosesandthicklipsofthetypicalWestCoastsavagewereentirelymissing。Inreposethefacesofthemenwereintelligentanddignified，thoseofthewomenofttimesprepossessing。

Itwasduringthisdancethattheape—manfirstnoticedthatsomeofthemenandmanyofthewomenworeornamentsofgold——principallyankletsandarmletsofgreatweight，apparentlybeatenoutofthesolidmetal。Whenheexpressedawishtoexamineoneofthese，theownerremoveditfromherpersonandinsisted，throughthemediumofsigns，thatTarzanacceptitasagift。Aclosescrutinyofthebaubleconvincedtheape—manthatthearticlewasofvirgingold，andhewassurprised，foritwasthefirsttimethathehadeverseengoldenornamentsamongthesavagesofAfrica，otherthanthetriflingbaublesthosenearthecoasthadpurchasedorstolenfromEuropeans。Hetriedtoaskthemfromwhencethemetalcame，buthecouldnotmakethemunderstand。

WhenthedancewasdoneTarzansignifiedhisintentiontoleavethem，buttheyalmostimploredhimtoacceptthehospitalityofagreathutwhichthechiefsetapartforhissoleuse。Hetriedtoexplainthathewouldreturninthemorning，buttheycouldnotunderstand。Whenhefinallywalkedawayfromthemtowardthesideofthevillageoppositethegate，theywerestillfurthermystifiedastohisintentions。

Tarzan，however，knewjustwhathewasabout。Inthepasthehadhadexperiencewiththerodentsandverminthatinfesteverynativevillage，and，whilehewasnotoverscrupulousaboutsuchmatters，hemuchpreferredthefreshairoftheswayingtreestothefetidatmosphereofahut。

Thenativesfollowedhimtowhereagreattreeoverhungthepalisade，andasTarzanleapedforalowerbranchanddisappearedintothefoliageabove，preciselyafterthemannerofManu，themonkey，therewereloudexclamationsofsurpriseandastonishment。Forhalfanhourtheycalledtohimtoreturn，butashedidnotanswerthemtheyatlastdesisted，andsoughtthesleeping—matswithintheirhuts。

Tarzanwentbackintotheforestashortdistanceuntilhehadfoundatreesuitedtohisprimitiverequirements，andthen，curlinghimselfinagreatcrotch，hefellimmediatelyintoadeepsleep。

Thefollowingmorninghedroppedintothevillagestreetassuddenlyashehaddisappearedtheprecedingnight。

Foramomentthenativeswerestartledandafraid，butwhentheyrecognizedtheirguestofthenightbeforetheywelcomedhimwithshoutsandlaughter。Thatdayheaccompaniedapartyofwarriorstothenearbyplainsonagreathunt，andsodexterousdidtheyfindthiswhitemanwiththeirowncrudeweaponsthatanotherbondofrespectandadmirationwastherebywrought。

ForweeksTarzanlivedwithhissavagefriends，huntingbuffalo，antelope，andzebraformeat，andelephantforivory。

Quicklyhelearnedtheirsimplespeech，theirnativecustoms，andtheethicsoftheirwild，primitivetriballife。

Hefoundthattheywerenotcannibals——thattheylookedwithloathingandcontemptuponmenwhoatemen。

Busuli，thewarriorwhomhehadstalkedtothevillage，toldhimmanyofthetriballegends——how，manyyearsbefore，hispeoplehadcomemanylongmarchesfromthenorth;howoncetheyhadbeenagreatandpowerfultribe;

andhowtheslaveraidershadwroughtsuchhavocamongthemwiththeirdeath—dealinggunsthattheyhadbeenreducedtoamereremnantoftheirformernumbersandpower。

"Theyhuntedusdownasonehuntsafiercebeast，"saidBusuli。

"Therewasnomercyinthem。Whenitwasnotslavestheysoughtitwasivory，butusuallyitwasboth。Ourmenwerekilledandourwomendrivenawaylikesheep。Wefoughtagainstthemformanyyears，butourarrowsandspearscouldnotprevailagainstthestickswhichspitfireandleadanddeathtomanytimesthedistancethatourmightiestwarriorcouldplaceanarrow。Atlast，whenmyfatherwasayoungman，theArabscameagain，butourwarriorssawthemalongwayoff，andChowambi，whowaschiefthen，toldhispeopletogatheruptheirbelongingsandcomeawaywithhim——thathewouldleadthemfartothesouthuntiltheyfoundaspottowhichtheArabraidersdidnotcome。

"Andtheydidashebid，carryingalltheirbelongings，includingmanytusksofivory。Formonthstheywandered，sufferinguntoldhardshipsandprivations，formuchofthewaywasthroughdensejungle，andacrossmightymountains，butfinallytheycametothisspot，andalthoughtheysentpartiesfartherontosearchforanevenbetterlocation，nonehaseverbeenfound。"

"Andtheraidershaveneverfoundyouhere？"askedTarzan。

"AboutayearagoasmallpartyofArabsandManyuemastumbleduponus，butwedrovethemoff，killingmany。

Fordayswefollowedthem，stalkingthemforthewildbeaststheyare，pickingthemoffonebyone，untilbutahandfulremained，buttheseescapedus。"

AsBusulitalkedhefingeredaheavygoldarmletthatencircledtheglossyhideofhisleftarm。Tarzan’seyeshadbeenupontheornament，buthisthoughtswereelsewhere。

Presentlyherecalledthequestionhehadtriedtoaskwhenhefirstcametothetribe——thequestionhecouldnotatthattimemakethemunderstand。Forweekshehadforgottensotrivialathingasgold，forhehadbeenforthetimeatrulyprimevalmanwithnothoughtbeyondtoday。Butofasuddenthesightofgoldawakenedthesleepingcivilizationthatwasinhim，andwithitcamethelustforwealth。ThatlessonTarzanhadlearnedwellinhisbriefexperienceofthewaysofcivilizedman。Heknewthatgoldmeantpowerandpleasure。

Hepointedtothebauble。

"Fromwhencecametheyellowmetal，Busuli？"heasked。

Theblackpointedtowardthesoutheast。

"Amoon’smarchaway——maybemore，"hereplied。

"Haveyoubeenthere？"askedTarzan。

"No，butsomeofourpeoplewerethereyearsago，whenmyfatherwasyetayoungman。Oneofthepartiesthatsearchedfartherforalocationforthetribewhenfirsttheysettledherecameuponastrangepeoplewhoworemanyornamentsofyellowmetal。Theirspearsweretippedwithit，asweretheirarrows，andtheycookedinvesselsmadeallofsolidmetallikemyarmlet。

"Theylivedinagreatvillageinhutsthatwerebuiltofstoneandsurroundedbyagreatwall。Theywereveryfierce，rushingoutandfallinguponourwarriorsbeforeevertheylearnedthattheirerrandwasapeacefulone。Ourmenwerefewinnumber，buttheyheldtheirownatthetopofalittlerockyhill，untilthefiercepeoplewentbackatsunsetintotheirwickedcity。Thenourwarriorscamedownfromtheirhill，and，aftertakingmanyornamentsofyellowmetalfromthebodiesofthosetheyhadslain，theymarchedbackoutofthevalley，norhaveanyofuseverreturned。

"Theyarewickedpeople——neitherwhitelikeyounorblacklikeme，butcoveredwithhairasisBolgani，thegorilla。

Yes，theyareverybadpeopleindeed，andChowambiwasgladtogetoutoftheircountry。"

"AndarenoneofthosealivewhowerewithChowambi，andsawthesestrangepeopleandtheirwonderfulcity？"askedTarzan。

"Waziri，ourchief，wasthere，"repliedBusuli。"Hewasaveryyoungmanthen，butheaccompaniedChowambi，whowashisfather。"

SothatnightTarzanaskedWaziriaboutit，andWaziri，whowasnowanoldman，saidthatitwasalongmarch，butthatthewaywasnotdifficulttofollow。Heremembereditwell。

"Fortendayswefollowedthisriverwhichrunsbesideourvillage。Uptowarditssourcewetraveleduntilonthetenthdaywecametoalittlespringfarupuponthesideofaloftymountainrange。Inthislittlespringourriverisborn。

Thenextdaywecrossedoverthetopofthemountain，andupontheothersidewecametoatinyrivuletwhichwefolloweddownintoagreatforest。Formanydayswetraveledalongthewindingbanksoftherivuletthathadnowbecomeariver，untilwecametoagreaterriver，intowhichitemptied，andwhichrandownthecenterofamightyvalley。

"Thenwefollowedthislargerivertowarditssource，hopingtocometomoreopenland。Aftertwentydaysofmarchingfromthetimewehadcrossedthemountainsandpassedoutofourowncountrywecameagaintoanotherrangeofmountains。

Uptheirsidewefollowedthegreatriver，thathadnowdwindledtoatinyrivulet，untilwecametoalittlecavenearthemountain—top。Inthiscavewasthemotheroftheriver。

"Irememberthatwecampedtherethatnight，andthatitwasverycold，forthemountainswerehigh。Thenextdaywedecidedtoascendtothetopofthemountains，andseewhatthecountryupontheothersidelookedlike，andifitseemednobetterthanthatwhichwehadsofartraversedwewouldreturntoourvillageandtellthemthattheyhadalreadyfoundthebestplaceinalltheworldtolive。

"Andsoweclamberedupthefaceoftherockycliffsuntilwereachedthesummit，andtherefromaflatmountain—topwesaw，notfarbeneathus，ashallowvalley，verynarrow;anduponthefarsideofitwasagreatvillageofstone，muchofwhichhadfallenandcrumbledintodecay。"

ThebalanceofWaziri’sstorywaspracticallythesameasthatwhichBusulihadtold。

"Ishouldliketogothereandseethisstrangecity，"saidTarzan，"andgetsomeoftheiryellowmetalfromitsfierceinhabitants。"

"Itisalongmarch，"repliedWaziri，"andIamanoldman，butifyouwillwaituntiltherainyseasonisoverandtherivershavegonedownIwilltakesomeofmywarriorsandgowithyou。"

AndTarzanhadtobecontentedwiththatarrangement，thoughhewouldhavelikeditwellenoughtohavesetoffthenextmorning——hewasasimpatientasachild。ReallyTarzanoftheApeswasbutachild，oraprimevalman，whichisthesamethinginaway。

Thenextdaybutoneasmallpartyofhuntersreturnedtothevillagefromthesouthtoreportalargeherdofelephantsomemilesaway。Byclimbingtreestheyhadhadafairlygoodviewoftheherd，whichtheydescribedasnumberingseverallargetuskers，agreatmanycowsandcalves，andfull—grownbullswhoseivorywouldbeworthhaving。

Thebalanceofthedayandeveningwasfilledwithpreparationforagreathunt——spearswereoverhauled，quiverswerereplenished，bowswererestrung;andallthewhilethevillagewitchdoctorpassedthroughthebusythrongsdisposingofvariouscharmsandamuletsdesignedtoprotectthepossessorfromhurt，orbringhimgoodfortuneinthemorrow’shunt。

Atdawnthehunterswereoff。Therewerefiftysleek，blackwarriors，andintheirmidst，litheandactiveasayoungforestgod，strodeTarzanoftheApes，hisbrownskincontrastingoddlywiththeebonyofhiscompanions。Exceptforcolorhewasoneofthem。Hisornamentsandweaponswerethesameastheirs——hespoketheirlanguage——helaughedandjokedwiththem，andleapedandshoutedinthebriefwilddancethatprecededtheirdeparturefromthevillage，toallintentandpurposeasavageamongsavages。Nor，hadhequestionedhimself，isittobedoubtedthathewouldhaveadmittedthathewasfarmorecloselyalliedtothesepeopleandtheirlifethantotheParisianfriendswhoseways，apelike，hehadsuccessfullymimickedforafewshortmonths。

ButhedidthinkofD’Arnot，andagrinofamusementshowedhisstrongwhiteteethashepicturedtheimmaculateFrenchman’sexpressioncouldhebysomemeansseeTarzanashewasthatminute。PoorPaul，whohadpridedhimselfonhavingeradicatedfromhisfriendthelasttracesofwildsavagery。

"HowquicklyhaveIfallen！"thoughtTarzan;butinhishearthedidnotconsideritafall——rather，hepitiedthepoorcreaturesofParis，penneduplikeprisonersintheirsillyclothes，andwatchedbypolicemenalltheirpoorlives，thattheymightdonothingthatwasnotentirelyartificialandtiresome。

Atwohours’marchbroughtthemclosetothevicinityinwhichtheelephantshadbeenseenthepreviousday。

Fromthereontheymovedveryquietlyindeedsearchingforthespoorofthegreatbeasts。Atlengththeyfoundthewell—markedtrailalongwhichtheherdhadpassednotmanyhoursbefore。Insinglefiletheyfolloweditforabouthalfanhour。ItwasTarzanwhofirstraisedhishandinsignalthatthequarrywasathand——hissensitivenosehadwarnedhimthattheelephantswerenotfaraheadofthem。

Theblackswereskepticalwhenhetoldthemhowheknew。

"Comewithme，"saidTarzan，"andweshallsee。"

Withtheagilityofasquirrelhesprangintoatreeandrannimblytothetop。Oneoftheblacksfollowedmoreslowlyandcarefully。Whenhehadreachedaloftylimbbesidetheape—manthelatterpointedtothesouth，andthere，somefewhundredyardsaway，theblacksawanumberofhugeblackbacksswayingbackandforthabovethetopoftheloftyjunglegrasses。Hepointedthedirectiontothewatchersbelow，indicatingwithhisfingersthenumberofbeastshecouldcount。

Immediatelythehuntersstartedtowardtheelephants。

Theblackinthetreehasteneddown，butTarzanstalked，afterhisownfashion，alongtheleafywayofthemiddleterrace。

Itisnochild’splaytohuntwildelephantswiththecrudeweaponsofprimitiveman。Tarzanknewthatfewnativetribeseverattemptedit，andthefactthathistribedidsogavehimnolittlepride——alreadyhewascommencingtothinkofhimselfasamemberofthelittlecommunity。

AsTarzanmovedsilentlythroughthetreeshesawthewarriorsbelowcreepinginahalfcircleuponthestillunsuspectingelephants。Finallytheywerewithinsightofthegreatbeasts。Nowtheysingledouttwolargetuskers，andatasignalthefiftymenrosefromthegroundwheretheyhadlainconcealed，andhurledtheirheavywarspearsatthetwomarkedbeasts。Therewasnotasinglemiss;twenty—fivespearswereembeddedinthesidesofeachofthegiantanimals。

Onenevermovedfromthespotwhereitstoodwhentheavalancheofspearsstruckit，fortwo，perfectlyaimed，hadpenetrateditsheart，anditlungedforwarduponitsknees，rollingtothegroundwithoutastruggle。

Theother，standingnearlyhead—ontowardthehunters，hadnotprovedsogoodamark，andthougheveryspearstrucknotoneenteredthegreatheart。Foramomentthehugebullstoodtrumpetinginrageandpain，castingaboutwithitslittleeyesfortheauthorofitshurt。Theblackshadfadedintothejunglebeforetheweakeyesofthemonsterhadfallenuponanyofthem，butnowhecaughtthesoundoftheirretreat，and，amidaterrificcrashingofunderbrushandbranches，hechargedinthedirectionofthenoise。

ItsohappenedthatchancesenthiminthedirectionofBusuli，whomhewasovertakingsorapidlythatitwasasthoughtheblackwerestandingstillinsteadofracingatfullspeedtoescapethecertaindeathwhichpursuedhim。

Tarzanhadwitnessedtheentireperformancefromthebranchesofanearbytree，andnowthathesawhisfriend’sperilheracedtowardtheinfuriatedbeastwithloudcries，hopingtodistracthim。

Butithadbeenaswellhadhesavedhisbreath，forthebrutewasdeafandblindtoallelsesavetheparticularobjectofhisragethatracedfutilelybeforehim。

AndnowTarzansawthatonlyamiraclecouldsaveBusuli，andwiththesameunconcernwithwhichhehadoncehuntedthisverymanhehurledhimselfintothepathoftheelephanttosavetheblackwarrior’slife。

Hestillgraspedhisspear，andwhileTantorwasyetsixoreightpacesbehindhisprey，asinewywhitewarriordroppedasfromtheheavens，almostdirectlyinhispath。

Withaviciouslungetheelephantswervedtotherighttodisposeofthistemerariousfoemanwhodaredintervenebetweenhimselfandhisintendedvictim;buthehadnotreckonedonthelightningquicknessthatcouldgalvanizethosesteelmusclesintoactionsomarvelouslyswiftastobaffleevenakeenereyesightthanTantor’s。

AndsoithappenedthatbeforetheelephantrealizedthathisnewenemyhadleapedfromhispathTarzanhaddrivenhisiron—shodspearfrombehindthemassiveshoulderstraightintothefierceheart，andthecolossalpachydermhadtoppledtohisdeathatthefeetoftheape—man。

Busulihadnotbeheldthemannerofhisdeliverance，butWaziri，theoldchief，hadseen，andseveraloftheotherwarriors，andtheyhailedTarzanwithdelightastheyswarmedabouthimandhisgreatkill。Whenheleapeduponthemightycarcass，andgavevoicetotheweirdchallengewithwhichheannouncedagreatvictory，theblacksshrankbackinfear，fortothemitmarkedthebrutalBolgani，whomtheyfearedfullyasmuchastheyfearedNuma，thelion;butwithafearwithwhichwasmixedacertainuncannyaweofthemanlikethingtowhichtheyattributedsupernaturalpowers。

ButwhenTarzanloweredhisraisedheadandsmileduponthemtheywerereassured，thoughtheydidnotunderstand。

NordidtheyeverfullyunderstandthisstrangecreaturewhoranthroughthetreesasquicklyasManu，yetwasevenmoreathomeuponthegroundthanthemselves;whowasexceptastocolorlikeuntothemselves，yetaspowerfulastenofthem，andsinglehandedamatchforthefiercestdenizensofthefiercejungle。

Whentheremainderofthewarriorshadgathered，thehuntwasagaintakenupandthestalkingoftheretreatingherdoncemorebegun;buttheyhadcoveredabarehundredyardswhenfrombehindthem，atagreatdistance，soundedfaintlyastrangepopping。

Foraninstanttheystoodlikeagroupofstatuary，intentlylistening。ThenTarzanspoke。

"Guns！"hesaid。"Thevillageisbeingattacked。"

"Come！"criedWaziri。"TheArabraidershavereturnedwiththeircannibalslavesforourivoryandourwomen！"

Chapter16

TheIvoryRaidersWaziri’swarriorsmarchedatarapidtrotthroughthejungleinthedirectionofthevillage。Forafewminutes，thesharpcrackingofgunsaheadwarnedthemtohaste，butfinallythereportsdwindledtoanoccasionalshot，presentlyceasingaltogether。Norwasthislessominousthantherattleofmusketry，foritsuggestedbutasinglesolutiontothelittlebandofrescuers——thattheillygarrisonedvillagehadalreadysuccumbedtotheonslaughtofasuperiorforce。

Thereturninghuntershadcoveredalittlemorethanthreemilesofthefivethathadseparatedthemfromthevillagewhentheymetthefirstofthefugitiveswhohadescapedthebulletsandclutchesofthefoe。Therewereadozenwomen，youths，andgirlsintheparty，andsoexcitedweretheythattheycouldscarcemakethemselvesunderstoodastheytriedtorelatetoWazirithecalamitythathadbefallenhispeople。

"Theyareasmanyastheleavesoftheforest，"criedoneofthewomen，inattemptingtoexplaintheenemy’sforce。

"TherearemanyArabsandcountlessManyuema，andtheyallhaveguns。Theycreptclosetothevillagebeforeweknewthattheywereabout，andthen，withmanyshouts，theyrushedinuponus，shootingdownmen，andwomen，andchildren。Thoseofuswhocouldfledinalldirectionsintothejungle，butmorewerekilled。Idonotknowwhethertheytookanyprisonersornot——theyseemedonlybentuponkillingusall。TheManyuemacalledusmanynames，sayingthattheywouldeatusallbeforetheyleftourcountry——thatthiswasourpunishmentforkillingtheirfriendslastyear。Ididnothearmuch，forIranawayquickly。"

Themarchtowardthevillagewasnowresumed，moreslowlyandwithgreaterstealth，forWaziriknewthatitwastoolatetorescue——theironlymissioncouldbeoneofrevenge。

Insidethenextmileahundredmorefugitivesweremet。

Thereweremanymenamongthese，andsothefightingstrengthofthepartywasaugmented。

Nowadozenwarriorsweresentcreepingaheadtoreconnoiter。

Waziriremainedwiththemainbody，whichadvancedinathinlinethatspreadinagreatcrescentthroughtheforest。

Bythechief’ssidewalkedTarzan。

Presentlyoneofthescoutsreturned。Hehadcomewithinsightofthevillage。

"Theyareallwithinthepalisade，"hewhispered。

"Good！"saidWaziri。"Weshallrushinuponthemandslaythemall，"andhemadereadytosendwordalongthelinethattheyweretohaltattheedgeoftheclearinguntiltheysawhimrushtowardthevillage——thenallweretofollow。

"Wait！"cautionedTarzan。"Ifthereareevenfiftygunswithinthepalisadeweshallberepulsedandslaughtered。

Letmegoalonethroughthetrees，sothatImaylookdownuponthemfromabove，andseejusthowmanytherebe，andwhatchancewemighthavewerewetocharge。Itwerefoolishtoloseasinglemanneedlesslyiftherebenohopeofsuccess。

Ihaveanideathatwecanaccomplishmorebycunningthanbyforce。Willyouwait，Waziri？"

"Yes，"saidtheoldchief。"Go！"

SoTarzansprangintothetreesanddisappearedinthedirectionofthevillage。Hemovedmorecautiouslythanwashiswont，forheknewthatmenwithgunscouldreachhimquiteaseasilyinthetreetopsasontheground。AndwhenTarzanoftheApeselectedtoadoptstealth，nocreatureinallthejunglecouldmovesosilentlyorsocompletelyeffacehimselffromthesightofanenemy。