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。