Part 14 (2/2)
The latter was the first tohis palesture which has been a symbol of peace from pole to pole since man ceased to walk upon his knuckles Simultaneously he advanced a few paces and halted
Ta-den, assu that one so like Tarzan the Terrible lad to accept this overture of peace, the sign of which he returned in kind as he ascended the trail to where the other stood ”Who are you?” he asked, but the newcomer only shook his head to indicate that he did not understand
By signs he tried to carry to the Ho-don the fact that he was following a trail that had led him over a period of many days from some place beyond the ht Tarzan-jad-guru He wished, however, that he er perceived the Ho-don's prehensile thu tail with an astonishreater than all was the sense of relief that the first inhabitant of this strange country whoreatly would he have been handicapped by the necessity for forcing his way through a hostile land
Ta-den, who had been hunting for some of the smaller mammals, the ot his intended sport in the greater interest of his new discovery He would take the stranger to Oether the tould find so the true intentions of the newcons he apprised the other that he would accoether they descended toward the cliffs of Om-at's people
As they approached these they cauard of the oldthe wild fruits and herbs which constitute a part of their diet, as well as tending the s crops which they cultivate The fields lay in small level patches that had been cleared of trees and brush Their farm implements consisted of metal-shod poles which bore a closer resericulture Supple these were others with flattened blades that were neither hoes nor spades, but instead possessed the appearance of an unhappy atteht of these people the stranger halted and unslung his bow for these creatures were black as night, their bodies entirely covered with hair But Ta-den, interpreting the doubt in the other's esture and a sathered around excitedly jabbering questions in a language which the stranger discovered his guide understood though it was entirely unintelligible to the former They made no atte a peaceful and friendly people
It was but a short distance now to the caves and when they reached these Ta-den led the way aloft upon the wooden pegs, assured that this creature who him than had Tarzan the Terrible Nor was he mistaken for the other mounted with ease until presently the two stood within the recess before the cave of Om-at, the chief
The latter was not there and it was mid-afternoon before he returned, but in the meantime many warriors came to look upon the visitor and in each instance the latter was hly impressed with the friendly and peaceable spirit of his hosts, little guessing that he was being entertained by a ferocious and warlike tribe who never before the co theuest sensed intuitively that he was in the presence of a great , for not only did the attitude of the other black warriors indicate this but it ritten also in theat hi ”And I believe, Om-at,” concluded the Ho-don, ”that he seeks Tarzan the Terrible”
At the sound of that naible word that had fallen upon the ears of the stranger since he had cohtened ”Tarzan!” he cried, ”Tarzan of the Apes!” and by signs he tried to tell theht
They understood, and also they guessed froht Tarzan from motives of affection rather than the reverse, but of this Oer's knife, and repeating Tarzan's name, seized Ta-den and pretended to stab hier
The latter shook his head vehe a hand above his heart he raised his palm in the syuru,” exclaireat liar,” replied Oer, ”you know hie” And again reverting to sign language he sought to ascertain where Tarzan was He would pronounce the name and point in different directions, in the cave, down into the gorge, back toward the mountains, or out upon the valley below, and each tily and voice the universal ”eh?” of interrogation which they could not fail to understand But always Oesture which indicated that while he understood the question he was ignorant as to the whereabouts of the ape-ht to explain to the stranger what he knew of the whereabouts of Tarzan
He called the newcoer,” and he pointed to the sun and said as This he repeated several tiers outspread and touching the the thuer understood that hean arc with his forefinger starting at the eastern horizon and terain the words as adenen It was plain to the stranger that the words meant that the sun had crossed the heavens five times In other words, five days had passed O Tarzan's naers of his right hand upon the floor of the recess, sought to show that Tarzan had walked out of the cave and clis five days before, but this was as far as the sign language would perer followed hi that he understood he pointed to hi above announced that he would follow Tarzan
”Let us go with him,” said Om-at, ”for as yet we have not punished the Kor-ul-lul for killing our friend and ally”
”Persuade hi,” said Ta-den, ”that you reat raid upon the Kor-ul-lul, and this time, Om-at, do not kill your prisoners Take as many as you can alive and frouru”
”Great is the wisdom of the Ho-don,” replied O made prisoners of all the Kor-ul-lul we shall make them tell us ish to know And then we shall march thee of the cliff”
Ta-den smiled He knew that they would not take prisoner all the Kor-ul-lul warriors-that they would be fortunate if they took one and it was also possible that they ht even be driven back in defeat, but he knew too that Om-at would not hesitate to carry out his threat if he had the opportunity, so ihbors for each other
It was not difficult to explain Oer or to win his consent since he are, when the great black had made it plain that they would be accompanied by many warriors, that their venture would probably lead theuard that he could elad to avail himself of, since the furtherance of his quest was the paraht upon a pile of furs in one of the compartments of O the e warriors swar up the face of the sheer cliff and out upon the sue, the main body preceded by tarriors whose duties coincided with those of the point of ainst the danger of too sudden contact with the enee they went and down into the Kor-ul-lul and there almost immediately they ca his way fearfully up the gorge toward the village of his tribe Hiely, only added to his terror since from the moment that he had seen them and realized that escape was impossible, he had expected to be slain immediately