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fact gave her a greater sense of security and hope than she had before

experienced.

Pausing beside the hut next to the street, she peered cautiously about the corner.

A few inches from her was the open doorway of the structure, and beyond, farther

down the village street, the blacks were congregating about the prisoners, who

were already being bound to the stakes. All eyes were centered upon the victims,

and there was only the remotest chance that she and her companions would be

discovered until they were close upon the blacks. She wished, however, that she

might have some sort of a weapon with which to lead the attack, for she could not

know, of course, for a certainty whether the great apes would follow her or not.

Hoping that she might find something within the hut, she slipped quickly around

the corner and into the doorway and after her, one by one, came the nine bulls.

Searching quickly about the interior, she presently discovered a spear, and,

armed with this, she again approached the entrance.

Tarzan of the Apes and Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick were bound

securely to their respective stakes. Neither had spoken for some time. The

Englishman turned his head so that he could see his companion in misery.

Tarzan stood straight against his stake. His face was entirely expressionless in so

far as either fear or anger were concerned. His countenance portrayed bored

indifference though both men knew that they were about to be tortured.

Good-bye, old top," whispered the young lieutenant.

Tarzan turned his eyes in the direction of the other and smiled. "Good-bye," he

said. "If you want to get it over in a hurry, inhale the smoke and flames as rapidly

as you can."

"Thanks," replied the aviator and though he made a wry face, he drew himself up

very straight and squared his shoulders.

The women and children had seated themselves in a wide circle about the victims

while the warriors, hideously painted, were forming slowly to commence the

dance of death. Again Tarzan turned to his companion. "If you'd like to spoil their

fun," he said, "don't make any fuss no matter how much you suffer. If you can

carry on to the end without changing the expression upon your face or uttering a

single word, you will deprive them of all the pleasures of this part of the

entertainment. Good-bye again and good luck."

The young Englishman made no reply but it was evident from the set of his jaws

that the Negroes would get little enjoyment out of him.

110

Tarzan the Untamed