第12章

Infiveminuteshehadwormedhiswaytothegreattreethatoverhungthepalisadeatoneendofthevillage，andfromhispointofvantagelookeddownuponthesavagehordebeneath。HecountedfiftyArabsandestimatedthattherewerefivetimesasmanyManyuema。Thelatterweregorgingthemselvesuponfoodand，undertheverynosesoftheirwhitemasters，preparingthegruesomefeastwhichisthePIECEDERESISTANCEthatfollowsavictoryinwhichthebodiesoftheirslainenemiesfallintotheirhorridhands。

Theape—mansawthattochargethatwildhorde，armedastheywerewithguns，andbarricadedbehindthelockedgatesofthevillage，wouldbeafutiletask，andsohereturnedtoWaziriandadvisedhimtowait;thathe，Tarzan，hadabetterplan。

ButamomentbeforeoneofthefugitiveshadrelatedtoWazirithestoryoftheatrociousmurderoftheoldchief’swife，andsocrazedwithragewastheoldmanthathecastdiscretiontothewinds。Callinghiswarriorsabouthim，hecommandedthemtocharge，and，withbrandishingspearsandsavageyells，thelittleforceofscarcelymorethanahundreddashedmadlytowardthevillagegates。BeforetheclearinghadbeenhalfcrossedtheArabsopenedupawitheringfirefrombehindthepalisade。

WiththefirstvolleyWazirifell。Thespeedofthechargersslackened。Anothervolleybroughtdownahalfdozenmore。Afewreachedthebarredgates，onlytobeshotintheirtracks，withouttheghostofachancetogaintheinsideofthepalisade，andthenthewholeattackcrumpled，andtheremainingwarriorsscamperedbackintotheforest。

Astheyrantheraidersopenedthegates，rushingafterthem，tocompletetheday’sworkwiththeutterexterminationofthetribe。Tarzanhadbeenamongthelasttoturnbacktowardtheforest，andnow，asheranslowly，heturnedfromtimetotimetospeedawell—aimedarrowintothebodyofapursuer。

Oncewithinthejungle，hefoundalittleknotofdeterminedblackswaitingtogivebattletotheoncominghorde，butTarzancriedtothemtoscatter，keepingoutofharm’swayuntiltheycouldgatherinforceafterdark。

"DoasItellyou，"heurged，"andIwillleadyoutovictoryovertheseenemiesofyours。Scatterthroughtheforest，pickingupasmanystragglersasyoucanfind，andatnight，ifyouthinkthatyouhavebeenfollowed，comebyroundaboutwaystothespotwherewekilledtheelephantstoday。

ThenIwillexplainmyplan，andyouwillfindthatitisgood。

YoucannothopetopityourpunystrengthandsimpleweaponsagainstthenumbersandthegunsoftheArabsandtheManyuema。"

Theyfinallyassented。"Whenyouscatter，"explainedTarzan，inconclusion，"yourfoeswillhavetoscattertofollowyou，andsoitmayhappenthatifyouarewatchfulyoucandropmanyaManyuemawithyourarrowsfrombehindsomegreattrees。"

Theyhadbarelytimetohastenawayfartherintotheforestbeforethefirstoftheraidershadcrossedtheclearingandentereditinpursuitofthem。

Tarzanranashortdistancealongthegroundbeforehetooktothetrees。Thenheracedquicklytotheupperterrace，theredoublingonhistracksandmakinghiswayrapidlybacktowardthevillage。HerehefoundthateveryArabandManyuemahadjoinedinthepursuit，leavingthevillagedesertedexceptforthechainedprisonersandasingleguard。

Thesentrystoodattheopengate，lookinginthedirectionoftheforest，sothathedidnotseetheagilegiantthatdroppedtothegroundatthefarendofthevillagestreet。

Withdrawnbowtheape—mancreptstealthilytowardhisunsuspectingvictim。Theprisonershadalreadydiscoveredhim，andwithwideeyesfilledwithwonderandwithhopetheywatchedtheirwould—berescuer。NowhehaltednottenpacesfromtheunconsciousManyuema。Theshaftwasdrawnbackitsfulllengthattheheightofthekeengrayeyethatsightedalongitspolishedsurface。Therewasasuddentwangasthebrownfingersreleasedtheirhold，andwithoutasoundtheraidersankforwarduponhisface，awoodenshafttransfixinghisheartandprotrudingafootfromhisblackchest。

ThenTarzanturnedhisattentiontothefiftywomenandyouthschainednecktoneckonthelongslavechain。

Therewasnoreleasingoftheancientpadlocksinthetimethatwaslefthim，sotheape—mancalledtothemtofollowhimastheywere，and，snatchingthegunandcartridgebeltfromthedeadsentry，heledthenowhappybandoutthroughthevillagegateandintotheforestuponthefarsideoftheclearing。

Itwasaslowandarduousmarch，fortheslavechainwasnewtothesepeople，andthereweremanydelaysasoneoftheirnumberwouldstumbleandfall，draggingothersdownwithher。

Then，too，Tarzanhadbeenforcedtomakeawidedetourtoavoidanypossibilityofmeetingwithreturningraiders。

HewaspartiallyguidedbyoccasionalshotswhichindicatedthattheArabhordewasstillintouchwiththevillagers;butheknewthatiftheywouldbutfollowhisadvicetherewouldbebutfewcasualtiesotherthanonthesideofthemarauders。

Towardduskthefiringceasedentirely，andTarzanknewthattheArabshadallreturnedtothevillage。Hecouldscarcerepressasmileoftriumphashethoughtoftheirrageondiscoveringthattheirguardhadbeenkilledandtheirprisonerstakenaway。Tarzanhadwishedthathemighthavetakensomeofthegreatstoreofivorythevillagecontained，solelyforthepurposeofstillfurtheraugmentingthewrathofhisenemies;butheknewthatthatwasnotnecessaryforitssalvation，sincehealreadyhadaplanmappedoutwhichwouldeffectuallypreventtheArabsleavingthecountrywithasingletusk。Anditwouldhavebeencrueltohaveneedlesslyburdenedthesepoor，overwroughtwomenwiththeextraweightoftheheavyivory。

ItwasaftermidnightwhenTarzan，withhisslow—movingcaravan，approachedthespotwheretheelephantslay。

LongbeforetheyreachedittheyhadbeenguidedbythehugefirethenativeshadbuiltinthecenterofahastilyimprovisedBOMA，partiallyforwarmthandpartiallytokeepoffchancelions。

WhentheyhadcomeclosetotheencampmentTarzancalledaloudtoletthemknowthatfriendswerecoming。

ItwasajoyousreceptionthelittlepartyreceivedwhentheblackswithintheBOMAsawthelongfileoffetteredfriendsandrelativesenterthefirelight。Thesehadallbeengivenupaslostforever，ashadTarzanaswell，sothatthehappyblackswouldhaveremainedawakeallnighttofeastonelephantmeatandcelebratethereturnoftheirfellows，hadnotTarzaninsistedthattheytakewhatsleeptheycould，againsttheworkofthecomingday。

Atthat，sleepwasnoeasymatter，forthewomenwhohadlosttheirmenortheirchildrenintheday’smassacreandbattlemadenighthideouswiththeircontinuedwailingandhowling。Finally，however，Tarzansucceededinsilencingthem，onthepleathattheirnoisewouldattracttheArabstotheirhiding—place，whenallwouldbeslaughtered。

WhendawncameTarzanexplainedhisplanofbattletothewarriors，andwithoutdemuroneandallagreedthatitwasthesafestandsurestwayinwhichtoridthemselvesoftheirunwelcomevisitorsandberevengedforthemurderoftheirfellows。

Firstthewomenandchildren，withaguardofsometwentyoldwarriorsandyouths，werestartedsouthward，tobeentirelyoutofthezoneofdanger。TheyhadinstructionstoerecttemporaryshelterandconstructaprotectingBOMA

ofthornbush;fortheplanofcampaignwhichTarzanhadchosenwasonewhichmightstretchoutovermanydays，orevenweeks，duringwhichtimethewarriorswouldnotreturntothenewcamp。

Twohoursafterdaylightathincircleofblackwarriorssurroundedthevillage。Atintervalsonewasperchedhighinthebranchesofatreewhichcouldoverlookthepalisade。

PresentlyaManyuemawithinthevillagefell，piercedbyasinglearrow。Therehadbeennosoundofattack——noneofthehideouswar—criesorvaingloriouswavingofmenacingspearsthatordinarilymarkstheattackofsavages——justasilentmessengerofdeathfromoutofthesilentforest。

TheArabsandtheirfollowerswerethrownintoafinerageatthisunprecedentedoccurrence。Theyranforthegates，towreakdirevengeanceuponthefoolhardyperpetratoroftheoutrage;buttheysuddenlyrealizedthattheydidnotknowwhichwaytoturntofindthefoe。Astheystooddebatingwithmanyangryshoutsandmuchgesticulating，oneoftheArabssanksilentlytothegroundintheirverymidst——athinarrowprotrudingfromhisheart。

Tarzanhadplacedthefinestmarksmenofthetribeinthesurroundingtrees，withdirectionsnevertorevealthemselveswhiletheenemywasfacedintheirdirection。Asablackreleasedhismessengerofdeathhewouldslinkbehindtheshelteringstemofthetreehehadselected，norwouldheagainaimuntilawatchfuleyetoldhimthatnonewaslookingtowardhistree。

ThreetimestheArabsstartedacrosstheclearinginthedirectionfromwhichtheythoughtthearrowscame，buteachtimeanotherarrowwouldcomefrombehindtotakeitstollfromamongtheirnumber。Thentheywouldturnandchargeinanewdirection。Finallytheysetoutuponadeterminedsearchoftheforest，buttheblacksmeltedbeforethem，sothattheysawnosignofanenemy。

Butabovethemlurkedagrimfigureinthedensefoliageofthemightytrees——itwasTarzanoftheApes，hoveringoverthemasifhehadbeentheshadowofdeath。PresentlyaManyuemaforgedaheadofhiscompanions;therewasnonetoseefromwhatdirectiondeathcame，andsoitcamequickly，andamomentlaterthosebehindstumbledoverthedeadbodyoftheircomrade——theinevitablearrowpiercingthestillheart。

Itdoesnottakeagreatdealofthismannerofwarfaretogetuponthenervesofwhitemen，andsoitislittletobewonderedatthattheManyuemaweresoonpanic—stricken。

Didoneforgeaheadanarrowfoundhisheart;didonelagbehindheneveragainwasseenalive;didonestumbletooneside，evenforabaremomentfromthesightofhisfellows，hedidnotreturn——andalwayswhentheycameuponthebodiesoftheirdeadtheyfoundthoseterriblearrowsdrivenwiththeaccuracyofsuperhumanpowerstraightthroughthevictim’sheart。Butworsethanallelsewasthehideousfactthatnotonceduringthemorninghadtheyseenorheardtheslightestsignofanenemyotherthanthepitilessarrows。

Whenfinallytheyreturnedtothevillageitwasnobetter。

Everynowandthen，atvaryingintervalsthatweremaddeningintheterriblesuspensetheycaused，amanwouldplungeforwarddead。Theblacksbesoughttheirmasterstoleavethisterribleplace，buttheArabsfearedtotakeupthemarchthroughthegrimandhostileforestbesetbythisnewandterribleenemywhileladenwiththegreatstoreofivorytheyhadfoundwithinthevillage;but，worseyet，theyhatedtoleavetheivorybehind。

Finallytheentireexpeditiontookrefugewithinthethatchedhuts——here，atleast，theywouldbefreefromthearrows。

Tarzan，fromthetreeabovethevillage，hadmarkedthehutintowhichthechiefArabshadgone，and，balancinghimselfuponanoverhanginglimb，hedrovehisheavyspearwithalltheforceofhisgiantmusclesthroughthethatchedroof。

Ahowlofpaintoldhimthatithadfoundamark。

Withthispartingsalutetoconvincethemthattherewasnosafetyforthemanywherewithinthecountry，Tarzanreturnedtotheforest，collectedhiswarriors，andwithdrewamiletothesouthtorestandeat。Hekeptsentriesinseveraltreesthatcommandedaviewofthetrailtowardthevillage，buttherewasnopursuit。

Aninspectionofhisforceshowednotasinglecasualty——notevenaminorwound;whileroughestimatesoftheenemies’

lossconvincedtheblacksthatnofewerthantwentyhadfallenbeforetheirarrows。Theywerewildwithelation，andwereforfinishingthedayinonegloriousrushuponthevillage，duringwhichtheywouldslaughterthelastoftheirfoemen。Theywereevenpicturingthevarioustorturestheywouldinflict，andgloatingoverthesufferingoftheManyuema，forwhomtheyentertainedapeculiarhatred，whenTarzanputhisfootdownflatlyupontheplan。

"Youarecrazy！"hecried。"Ihaveshownyoutheonlywaytofightthesepeople。Alreadyyouhavekilledtwentyofthemwithoutthelossofasinglewarrior，whereas，yesterday，followingyourowntactics，whichyouwouldnowrenew，youlostatleastadozen，andkillednotasingleAraborManyuema。YouwillfightjustasItellyoutofight，orIshallleaveyouandgobacktomyowncountry。"

Theywerefrightenedwhenhethreatenedthis，andpromisedtoobeyhimscrupulouslyifhewouldbutpromisenottodesertthem。

"Verywell，"hesaid。"WeshallreturntotheelephantBOMAforthenight。IhaveaplantogivetheArabsalittletasteofwhattheymayexpectiftheyremaininourcountry，butIshallneednohelp。Come！Iftheysuffernomoreforthebalanceofthedaytheywillfeelreassured，andtherelapseintofearwillbeevenmorenerve—rackingthanasthoughwecontinuedtofrightenthemallafternoon。"

Sotheymarchedbacktotheircampofthepreviousnight，and，lightinggreatfires，ateandrecountedtheadventuresofthedayuntillongafterdark。Tarzansleptuntilmidnight，thenhearoseandcreptintotheCimmerianblacknessoftheforest。

Anhourlaterhecametotheedgeoftheclearingbeforethevillage。Therewasacamp—fireburningwithinthepalisade。

Theape—mancreptacrosstheclearinguntilhestoodbeforethebarredgates。Throughtheintersticeshesawalonesentrysittingbeforethefire。

QuietlyTarzanwenttothetreeattheendofthevillagestreet。

Heclimbedsoftlytohisplace，andfittedanarrowtohisbow。

Forseveralminuteshetriedtosightfairlyuponthesentry，butthewavingbranchesandflickeringfirelightconvincedhimthatthedangerofamisswastoogreat——hemusttouchtheheartfullinthecentertobringthequietandsuddendeathhisplanrequired。

Hehadbrought，besides，hisbow，arrows，andrope，thegunhehadtakenthepreviousdayfromtheothersentryhehadkilled。Cachingalltheseinaconvenientcrotchofthetree，hedroppedlightlytothegroundwithinthepalisade，armedonlywithhislongknife。Thesentry’sbackwastowardhim。

LikeacatTarzancreptuponthedozingman。Hewaswithintwopacesofhimnow——anotherinstantandtheknifewouldslidesilentlyintothefellow’sheart。

Tarzancrouchedforaspring，forthatiseverthequickestandsurestattackofthejunglebeast——whentheman，warned，bysomesubtlesense，sprangtohisfeetandfacedtheape—man。

Chapter17

TheWhiteChiefoftheWaziriWhentheeyesoftheblackManyuemasavagefelluponthestrangeapparitionthatconfrontedhimwithmenacingknifetheywentwideinhorror。Heforgotthegunwithinhishands;heevenforgottocryout——hisonethoughtwastoescapethisfearsome—lookingwhitesavage，thisgiantofamanuponwhosemassiverollingmusclesandmightychesttheflickeringfirelightplayed。

ButbeforehecouldturnTarzanwasuponhim，andthenthesentrythoughttoscreamforaid，butitwastoolate。

Agreathandwasuponhiswindpipe，andhewasbeingbornetotheearth。Hebattledfuriouslybutfutilely——withthegrimtenacityofabulldogthoseawfulfingerswereclingingtohisthroat。Swiftlyandsurelylifewasbeingchokedfromhim。

Hiseyesbulged，histongueprotruded，hisfaceturnedtoaghastlypurplishhue——therewasaconvulsivetremorofthestiffeningmuscles，andtheManyuemasentrylayquitestill。

Theape—manthrewthebodyacrossoneofhisbroadshouldersand，gatheringupthefellow’sgun，trottedsilentlyupthesleepingvillagestreettowardthetreethatgavehimsucheasyingresstothepalisadedvillage。Heborethedeadsentryintothemidstoftheleafymazeabove。

Firsthestrippedthebodyofcartridgebeltandsuchornamentsashecraved，wedgingitintoaconvenientcrotchwhilehisnimblefingersranoveritinsearchoftheloothecouldnotplainlyseeinthedark。Whenhehadfinishedhetookthegunthathadbelongedtotheman，andwalkedfaroutuponalimb，fromtheendofwhichhecouldobtainabetterviewofthehuts。DrawingacarefulbeadonthebeehivestructureinwhichheknewthechiefArabstobe，hepulledthetrigger。Almostinstantlytherewasanansweringgroan。Tarzansmiled。Hehadmadeanotherluckyhit。

Followingtheshottherewasamoment’ssilenceinthecamp，andthenManyuemaandArabcamepouringfromthehutslikeaswarmofangryhornets;butifthetruthwereknowntheywereevenmorefrightenedthantheywereangry。

Thestrainoftheprecedingdayhadwroughtuponthefearsofbothblackandwhite，andnowthissingleshotinthenightconjuredallmannerofterribleconjecturesintheirterrifiedminds。

Whentheydiscoveredthattheirsentryhaddisappeared，theirfearswereinnowayallayed，andasthoughtobolstertheircouragebywarlikeactions，theybegantofirerapidlyatthebarredgatesofthevillage，althoughnoenemywasinsight。Tarzantookadvantageofthedeafeningroarofthisfusilladetofireintothemobbeneathhim。

Nooneheardhisshotabovethedinofrattlingmusketryinthestreet，butsomewhowerestandingclosesawoneoftheirnumbercrumplesuddenlytotheearth。Whentheyleanedoverhimhewasdead。Theywerepanic—stricken，andittookallthebrutalauthorityoftheArabstokeeptheManyuemafromrushinghelter—skelterintothejungle——anywheretoescapefromthisterriblevillage。

Afteratimetheycommencedtoquietdown，andasnofurthermysteriousdeathsoccurredamongthemtheytookheartagain。Butitwasashort—livedrespite，forjustastheyhadconcludedthattheywouldnotbedisturbedagainTarzangavevoicetoaweirdmoan，andastheraiderslookedupinthedirectionfromwhichthesoundseemedtocome，theape—man，whostoodswingingthedeadbodyofthesentrygentlytoandfro，suddenlyshotthecorpsefaroutabovetheirheads。

Withhowlsofalarmthethrongbrokeinalldirectionstoescapethisnewandterriblecreaturewhoseemedtobespringinguponthem。Totheirfear—distortedimaginationsthebodyofthesentry，fallingwithwide—sprawledarmsandlegs，assumedthelikenessofagreatbeastofprey。Intheiranxietytoescape，manyoftheblacksscaledthepalisade，whileotherstoredownthebarsfromthegatesandrushedmadlyacrosstheclearingtowardthejungle。

Foratimenooneturnedbacktowardthethingthathadfrightenedthem，butTarzanknewthattheywouldinamoment，andwhentheydiscoveredthatitwasbutthedeadbodyoftheirsentry，whiletheywoulddoubtlessbestillfurtherterrified，hehadaratherdefiniteideaastowhattheywoulddo，andsohefadedsilentlyawaytowardthesouth，takingthemoonlitupperterracebacktowardthecampoftheWaziri。

PresentlyoneoftheArabsturnedandsawthatthethingthathadleapedfromthetreeuponthemlaystillandquietwhereithadfalleninthecenterofthevillagestreet。

Cautiouslyhecreptbacktowardituntilhesawthatitwasbutaman。Amomentlaterhewasbesidethefigure，andinanotherhadrecognizeditasthecorpseoftheManyuemawhohadstoodonguardatthevillagegate。

Hiscompanionsrapidlygatheredaroundathiscall，andafteramoment’sexcitedconversationtheydidpreciselywhatTarzanhadreasonedtheywould。Raisingtheirgunstotheirshoulders，theypouredvolleyaftervolleyintothetreefromwhichthecorpsehadbeenthrown——hadTarzanremainedtherehewouldhavebeenriddledbyahundredbullets。

WhentheArabsandManyuemadiscoveredthattheonlymarksofviolenceuponthebodyoftheirdeadcomradeweregiantfingerprintsuponhisswollenthroattheywereagainthrownintodeeperapprehensionanddespair。

Thattheywerenotevensafewithinapalisadedvillageatnightcameasadistinctshocktothem。Thatanenemycouldenterintothemidstoftheircampandkilltheirsentrywithbarehandsseemedoutsidetheboundsofreason，andsothesuperstitiousManyuemacommencedtoattributetheirilllucktosupernaturalcauses;norweretheArabsabletoofferanybetterexplanation。

Withatleastfiftyoftheirnumberflyingthroughtheblackjungle，andwithouttheslightestknowledgeofwhentheiruncannyfoemenmightresumethecold—bloodedslaughtertheyhadcommenced，itwasadesperatebandofcut—throatsthatwaitedsleeplesslyforthedawn。OnlyonthepromiseoftheArabsthattheywouldleavethevillageatdaybreak，andhastenonwardtowardtheirownland，wouldtheremainingManyuemaconsenttostayatthevillageamomentlonger。Notevenfearoftheircruelmasterswassufficienttoovercomethisnewterror。

AndsoitwasthatwhenTarzanandhiswarriorsreturnedtotheattackthenextmorningtheyfoundtheraiderspreparedtomarchoutofthevillage。TheManyuemawereladenwithstolenivory。AsTarzansawithegrinned，forheknewthattheywouldnotcarryitfar。Thenhesawsomethingwhichcausedhimanxiety——anumberoftheManyuemawerelightingtorchesintheremnantofthecamp—fire。

Theywereabouttofirethevillage。

Tarzanwasperchedinatalltreesomehundredyardsfromthepalisade。Makingatrumpetofhishands，hecalledloudlyintheArabtongue:"Donotfirethehuts，orweshallkillyouall！Donotfirethehuts，orweshallkillyouall！"

Adozentimesherepeatedit。TheManyuemahesitated，thenoneofthemflunghistorchintothecampfire。

TheotherswereabouttodothesamewhenanArabsprunguponthemwithastick，beatingthemtowardthehuts。

Tarzancouldseethathewascommandingthemtofirethelittlethatcheddwellings。Thenhestooderectupontheswayingbranchahundredfeetabovetheground，and，raisingoneoftheArabgunstohisshoulder，tookcarefulaimandfired。WiththereporttheArabwhowasurgingonhismentoburnthevillagefellinhistracks，andtheManyuemathrewawaytheirtorchesandfledfromthevillage。

ThelastTarzansawofthemtheywereracingtowardthejungle，whiletheirformermasterskneltuponthegroundandfiredatthem。

ButhoweverangrytheArabsmighthavebeenattheinsubordinationoftheirslaves，theywereatleastconvincedthatitwouldbethebetterpartofwisdomtoforegothepleasureoffiringthevillagethathadgiventhemtwosuchnastyreceptions。Intheirhearts，however，theysworetoreturnagainwithsuchforceaswouldenablethemtosweeptheentirecountryformilesaround，untilnovestigeofhumanliferemained。

Theyhadlookedinvainfortheownerofthevoicewhichhadfrightenedoffthemenwhohadbeendetailedtoputthetorchtothehuts，butnoteventhekeenesteyeamongthemhadbeenabletolocatehim。TheyhadseenthepuffofsmokefromthetreefollowingtheshotthatbroughtdowntheArab，but，thoughavolleyhadimmediatelybeenloosedintoitsfoliage，therehadbeennoindicationthatithadbeeneffective。

Tarzanwastoointelligenttobecaughtinanysuchtrap，andsothereportofhisshothadscarcelydiedawaybeforetheape—manwasonthegroundandracingforanothertreeahundredyardsaway。Hereheagainfoundasuitableperchfromwhichhecouldwatchthepreparationsoftheraiders。

Itoccurredtohimthathemighthaveconsiderablemorefunwiththem，soagainhecalledtothemthroughhisimprovisedtrumpet。

"Leavetheivory！"hecried。"Leavetheivory！Deadmenhavenouseforivory！"

SomeoftheManyuemastartedtolaydowntheirloads，butthiswasaltogethertoomuchfortheavariciousArabs。

Withloudshoutsandcursestheyaimedtheirgunsfulluponthebearers，threateninginstantdeathtoanywhomightlaydownhisload。Theycouldgiveupfiringthevillage，butthethoughtofabandoningthisenormousfortuneinivorywasquitebeyondtheirconception——betterdeaththanthat。

AndsotheymarchedoutofthevillageoftheWaziri，andontheshouldersoftheirslaveswastheivoryransomofascoreofkings。Towardthenorththeymarched，backtowardtheirsavagesettlementinthewildandunknowncountrywhichliesbackfromtheKongointheuttermostdepthsofTheGreatForest，andoneithersideofthemtraveledaninvisibleandrelentlessfoe。

UnderTarzan’sguidancetheblackWaziriwarriorsstationedthemselvesalongthetrailoneithersideinthedensestunderbrush。

Theystoodatfarintervals，and，asthecolumnpassed，asinglearroworaheavyspear，wellaimed，wouldpierceaManyuemaoranArab。ThentheWaziriwouldmeltintothedistanceandrunaheadtotakehisstandfartheron。

Theydidnotstrikeunlesssuccessweresureandthedangerofdetectionalmostnothing，andsothearrowsandthespearswerefewandfarbetween，butsopersistentandinevitablethattheslow—movingcolumnofheavy—ladenraiderswasinaconstantstateofpanic——panicattheuncertaintyofwhothenextwouldbetofall，andwhen。

ItwaswiththegreatestdifficultythattheArabspreventedtheirmenadozentimesfromthrowingawaytheirburdensandfleeinglikefrightenedrabbitsupthetrailtowardthenorth。

Andsothedayworeon——afrightfulnightmareofadayfortheraiders——adayofwearybutwell—repaidworkfortheWaziri。

AtnighttheArabsconstructedarudeBOMAinalittleclearingbyariver，andwentintocamp。

Atintervalsduringthenightariflewouldbarkcloseabovetheirheads，andoneofthedozensentrieswhichtheynowhadpostedwouldtumbletotheground。Suchaconditionwasinsupportable，fortheysawthatbymeansofthesehideoustacticstheywouldbecompletelywipedout，onebyone，withoutinflictingasingledeathupontheirenemy。

Butyet，withthepersistentavariciousnessofthewhiteman，theArabsclungtotheirloot，andwhenmorningcameforcedthedemoralizedManyuematotakeuptheirburdensofdeathandstaggeronintothejungle。

Forthreedaysthewitheringcolumnkeptupitsfrightfulmarch。

Eachhourwasmarkedbyitsdeadlyarroworcruelspear。

Thenightsweremadehideousbythebarkingoftheinvisiblegunthatmadesentrydutyequivalenttoadeathsentence。

OnthemorningofthefourthdaytheArabswerecompelledtoshoottwooftheirblacksbeforetheycouldcompelthebalancetotakeupthehatedivory，andastheydidsoavoicerangout，clearandstrong，fromthejungle:"Todayyoudie，oh，Manyuema，unlessyoulaydowntheivory。

Falluponyourcruelmastersandkillthem！Youhaveguns，whydoyounotusethem？KilltheArabs，andwewillnotharmyou。Wewilltakeyoubacktoourvillageandfeedyou，andleadyououtofourcountryinsafetyandinpeace。

Laydowntheivory，andfalluponyourmasters——wewillhelpyou。Elseyoudie！"

Asthevoicedieddowntheraidersstoodasthoughturnedtostone。TheArabseyedtheirManyuemaslaves;theslaveslookedfirstatoneoftheirfellows，andthenatanother——theywerebutwaitingforsomeonetotaketheinitiative。

ThereweresomethirtyArabsleft，andaboutonehundredandfiftyblacks。Allwerearmed——eventhosewhowereactingasportershadtheirriflesslungacrosstheirbacks。

TheArabsdrewtogether。ThesheikorderedtheManyuematotakeupthemarch，andashespokehecockedhisrifleandraisedit。Butatthesameinstantoneoftheblacksthrewdownhisload，and，snatchinghisriflefromhisback，firedpoint—blackatthegroupofArabs。Inaninstantthecampwasacursing，howlingmassofdemons，fightingwithgunsandknivesandpistols。TheArabsstoodtogether，anddefendedtheirlivesvaliantly，butwiththerainofleadthatpoureduponthemfromtheirownslaves，andtheshowerofarrowsandspearswhichnowleapedfromthesurroundingjungleaimedsolelyatthem，therewaslittlequestionfromthefirstwhattheoutcomewouldbe。IntenminutesfromthetimethefirstporterhadthrowndownhisloadthelastoftheArabslaydead。

WhenthefiringhadceasedTarzanspokeagaintotheManyuema:

"Takeupourivory，andreturnittoourvillage，fromwhenceyoustoleit。Weshallnotharmyou。"

ForamomenttheManyuemahesitated。Theyhadnostomachtoretracethatdifficultthreedays’trail。

Theytalkedtogetherinlowwhispers，andoneturnedtowardthejungle，callingaloudtothevoicethathadspokentothemfromoutofthefoliage。

"Howdoweknowthatwhenyouhaveusinyourvillageyouwillnotkillusall？"heasked。

"Youdonotknow，"repliedTarzan，"otherthanthatwehavepromisednottoharmyouifyouwillreturnourivorytous。Butthisyoudoknow，thatitlieswithinourpowertokillyouallifyoudonotreturnaswedirect，andarewenotmorelikelytodosoifyouangerusthanifyoudoaswebid？"

"WhoareyouthatspeaksthetongueofourArabmasters？"

criedtheManyuemaspokesman。"Letusseeyou，andthenweshallgiveyououranswer。"

Tarzansteppedoutofthejungleadozenpacesfromthem。

"Look！"hesaid。Whentheysawthathewaswhitetheywerefilledwithawe，forneverhadtheyseenawhitesavagebefore，andathisgreatmusclesandgiantframetheywerestruckwithwonderandadmiration。

"Youmaytrustme，"saidTarzan。"SolongasyoudoasItellyou，andharmnoneofmypeople，weshalldoyounohurt。Willyoutakeupourivoryandreturninpeacetoourvillage，orshallwefollowalongyourtrailtowardthenorthaswehavefollowedforthepastthreedays？"

TherecollectionofthehorriddaysthathadjustpassedwasthethingthatfinallydecidedtheManyuema，andso，afterashortconference，theytookuptheirburdensandsetofftoretracetheirstepstowardthevillageoftheWaziri。