Part 16 (1/2)

Finding the ape-man made no atterasp upon his courage, and, at Tarzan's suggestion, acco as he went for his fellows to return also, as ”the white devil has proht away and answer his questions”

One by one the blacks straggled into the village, but that their fears were not entirely allayed was evident from the amount of white that showed about the eyes of the majority of thelances at the ape- the first to return to the village, and as it was he that Tarzan wasinto a palaver with the black

The felloas short and stout, with an unusually low and degraded countenance and apelike arms His whole expression denoted deceitfulness

Only the superstitious terror engendered in him by the stories poured into his ears by the whites and blacks of the Russian's party kept hi him forthwith, for he and his people were inveterate ht indeed be a devil, and that out there in the jungle behind hianwaza his desires into action

Tarzan questioned the fellow closely, and by co warrior he had first talked with he learned that Rokoff and his safari were in terror-stricken retreat in the direction of the far East Coast

Many of the Russian's porters had already deserted hied five for theft and atteanwazam had learned froone in terror of the brutal Rokoff to fear even to speak of their plans, it was apparent that he would not travel any great distance before the last of his porters, cooks, tent-boys, gun-bearers, askari, and even his head hianwazam denied that there had been any white woman or child with the party of whites; but even as he spoke Tarzan was convinced that he lied Several tiles, but never was he successful in surprising the wily cannibal into a direct contradiction of his original statement that there had been no women or children with the party

Tarzan de on the part of thea meal He then tried to draw out others of the tribe, especially the young anwazam's presence sealed their lips

At last, convinced that these people knew a great dealthe whereabouts of the Russian and the fate of Jane and the child, Tarzan deter the further of importance

When he had stated his decision to the chief he was rather surprised to note the sudden change in the fellow's attitude toward hianwaza would do but that the ape-anwazam's oldest as forthwith summarily ejected, while the chief took up his teer consorts

Had Tarzan chanced to recall the fact that a princely reward had been offered the blacks if they should succeed in killing hianwazaiant sleeping peacefully in one of his own huts would greatly facilitate the ent in his suggestions that Tarzan, doubtless being very ued after his travels, should retire early to the co palace

Aswithin a native hut, he had deterht be able to induce one of the younger men to sit and chat with him before the fire that burned in the centre of the sht So Tarzan accepted the invitation of old M'ganwaza a hut with so the chief's old wife out in the cold

The toothless old hag grinned her appreciation of this suggestion, and as the plan still better suited the chief's sche of picked assassins, he readily assented, so that presently Tarzan had been installed in a hut close to the village gate

As there was to be a dance that night in honour of a band of recently returned hunters, Tarzan was left alone in the hut, the youngto take part in the festivities

As soon as the ape-man was safely installed in the trap, M'Ganwaza warriors whoht with the white devil!

None of them was overly enthusiastic about the plan, since deep in their superstitious hearts lay an exaggerated fear of the strange white giant; but the word of M'ganwaza his people, so not one dared refuse the duty he was called upon to perforanwaza about hi, to whoht, hovered about the conspirators ostensibly to replenish the supply of firewood for the blaze about which the men sat, but really to drink in as much of their conversation as possible

Tarzan had slept for perhaps an hour or two despite the savage din of the revellers when his keen senses came suddenly alert to a suspiciously stealthy movement in the hut in which he lay The fire had died down to a little heap of glowing embers, which accentuated rather than relieved the darkness that shrouded the interior of the evil-s, yet the trained senses of the ape- alloo from the festivities, for he still heard the wild cries of the dancers and the din of the toe street without Who could it be that took such pains to conceal his approach?

As the presence cahtly to the opposite side of the hut, his spear poised ready at his side

”Who is it,” he asked, ”that creeps upon Tarzan of the Apes, like a hungry lion out of the darkness?”

”Silence, bwana!” replied an old cracked voice ”It is Tambudza-she whose hut you would not take, and thus drive an old woht”

”What does Tambudza want of Tarzan of the Apes?” asked the ape-man