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Chapter 14 - Alone in the Jungle

Tambudza, leading Tarzan of the Apes toward the camp of the Russian, moved

very slowly along the winding jungle path, for she was old and her legs stiff with

rheumatism.

So it was that the runners dispatched by M'ganwazam to warn Rokoff that the

white giant was in his village and that he would be slain that night reached the

Russian's camp before Tarzan and his ancient guide had covered half the

distance.

The guides found the white man's camp in a turmoil. Rokoff had that morning

been discovered stunned and bleeding within his tent. When he had recovered

his senses and realized that Jane Clayton had escaped, his rage was boundless.

Rushing about the camp with his rifle, he had sought to shoot down the native

sentries who had allowed the young woman to elude their vigilance, but several of

the other whites, realizing that they were already in a precarious position owing

to the numerous desertions that Rokoff's cruelty had brought about, seized and

disarmed him.

Then came the messengers from M'ganwazam, but scarce had they told their

story and Rokoff was preparing to depart with them for their village when other

runners, panting from the exertions of their swift flight through the jungle,

rushed breathless into the firelight, crying that the great white giant had escaped

from M'ganwazam and was already on his way to wreak vengeance against his

enemies.

Instantly confusion reigned within the encircling boma. The blacks belonging to

Rokoff's safari were terror-stricken at the thought of the proximity of the white

giant who hunted through the jungle with a fierce pack of apes and panthers at

his heels.

Before the whites realized what had happened the superstitious fears of the

natives had sent them scurrying into the bush--their own carriers as well as the

messengers from M'ganwazam--but even in their haste they had not neglected to

take with them every article of value upon which they could lay their hands.

Thus Rokoff and the seven white sailors found themselves deserted and robbed in

the midst of a wilderness.

The Russian, following his usual custom, berated his companions, laying all the

blame upon their shoulders for the events which had led up to the almost

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The Beasts of Tarzan