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。