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。