www.freeclassicebooks.com

Rokoff's confederates had conspired with some woman--who had accompanied

the Russian--to steal the baby from him?

If this was the case, they had doubtless purposed returning the child to

civilization and there either claiming a reward or holding the little prisoner for

ransom.

But now that Rokoff had succeeded in chasing them far inland, up the savage

river, there could be little doubt but that he would eventually overhaul them,

unless, as was still more probable, they should be captured and killed by the very

cannibals farther up the Ugambi, to whom, Tarzan was now convinced, it had

been Rokoff's intention to deliver the baby.

As he talked to Kaviri the canoes had been moving steadily up-river toward the

chief's village. Kaviri's warriors plied the paddles in the three canoes, casting

sidelong, terrified glances at their hideous passengers. Three of the apes of Akut

had been killed in the encounter, but there were, with Akut, eight of the frightful

beasts remaining, and there was Sheeta, the panther, and Tarzan and Mugambi.

Kaviri's warriors thought that they had never seen so terrible a crew in all their

lives. Momentarily they expected to be pounced upon and torn asunder by some

of their captors; and, in fact, it was all that Tarzan and Mugambi and Akut could

do to keep the snarling, ill-natured brutes from snapping at the glistening, naked

bodies that brushed against them now and then with the movements of the

paddlers, whose very fear added incitement to the beasts.

At Kaviri's camp Tarzan paused only long enough to eat the food that the blacks

furnished, and arrange with the chief for a dozen men to man the paddles of his

canoe.

Kaviri was only too glad to comply with any demands that the ape-man might

make if only such compliance would hasten the departure of the horrid pack; but

it was easier, he discovered, to promise men than to furnish them, for when his

people learned his intentions those that had not already fled into the jungle

proceeded to do so without loss of time, so that when Kaviri turned to point out

those who were to accompany Tarzan, he discovered that he was the only

member of his tribe left within the village.

Tarzan could not repress a smile.

They do not seem anxious to accompany us," he said; "but just remain quietly

here, Kaviri, and presently you shall see your people flocking to your side."

The Beasts of Tarzan