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them with his grim horde should they attempt to run away from the duty--they

finally went gloomily down to the river and took their places in the canoe.

It was with a sigh of relief that their chieftain saw the party disappear about a

headland a short distance up-river.

For three days the strange company continued farther and farther into the heart

of the savage country that lies on either side of the almost unexplored Ugambi.

Three of the twelve warriors deserted during that time; but as several of the apes

had finally learned the secret of the paddles, Tarzan felt no dismay because of the

loss.

As a matter of fact, he could have travelled much more rapidly on shore, but he

believed that he could hold his own wild crew together to better advantage by

keeping them to the boat as much as possible. Twice a day they landed to hunt

and feed, and at night they slept upon the bank of the mainland or on one of the

numerous little islands that dotted the river.

Before them the natives fled in alarm, so that they found only deserted villages in

their path as they proceeded. Tarzan was anxious to get in touch with some of

the savages who dwelt upon the river's banks, but so far he had been unable to

do so.

Finally he decided to take to the land himself, leaving his company to follow after

him by boat. He explained to Mugambi the thing that he had in mind, and told

Akut to follow the directions of the black.

"I will join you again in a few days," he said. "Now I go ahead to learn what has

become of the very bad white man whom I seek."

At the next halt Tarzan took to the shore, and was soon lost to the view of his

people.

The first few villages he came to were deserted, showing that news of the coming

of his pack had travelled rapidly; but toward evening he came upon a distant

cluster of thatched huts surrounded by a rude palisade, within which were a

couple of hundred natives.

The women were preparing the evening meal as Tarzan of the Apes poised above

them in the branches of a giant tree which overhung the palisade at one point.

The ape-man was at a loss as to how he might enter into communication with

these people without either frightening them or arousing their savage love of

battle. He had no desire to fight now, for he was upon a much more important

The Beasts of Tarzan