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Two days later, still following up the Ugambi, he came upon a large village. The

chief, a wicked-looking fellow with the sharp-filed teeth that often denote the

cannibal, received him with apparent friendliness.

The ape-man was now thoroughly fatigued, and had determined to rest for eight

or ten hours that he might be fresh and strong when he caught up with Rokoff,

as he was sure he must do within a very short time.

The chief told him that the bearded white man had left his village only the

morning before, and that doubtless he would be able to overtake him in a short

time. The other party the chief had not seen or heard of, so he said.

Tarzan did not like the appearance or manner of the fellow, who seemed, though

friendly enough, to harbour a certain contempt for this half-naked white man

who came with no followers and offered no presents; but he needed the rest and

food that the village would afford him with less effort than the jungle, and so, as

he knew no fear of man, beast, or devil, he curled himself up in the shadow of a

hut and was soon asleep.

Scarcely had he left the chief than the latter called two of his warriors, to whom

he whispered a few instructions. A moment later the sleek, black bodies were

racing along the river path, up-stream, toward the east.

In the village the chief maintained perfect quiet. He would permit no one to

approach the sleeping visitor, nor any singing, nor loud talking. He was

remarkably solicitous lest his guest be disturbed.

Three hours later several canoes came silently into view from up the Ugambi.

They were being pushed ahead rapidly by the brawny muscles of their black

crews. Upon the bank before the river stood the chief, his spear raised in a

horizontal position above his head, as though in some manner of predetermined

signal to those within the boats.

And such indeed was the purpose of his attitude--which meant that the white

stranger within his village still slept peacefully.

In the bows of two of the canoes were the runners that the chief had sent forth

three hours earlier. It was evident that they had been dispatched to follow and

bring back this party, and that the signal from the bank was one that had been

determined upon before they left the village.

In a few moments the dugouts drew up to the verdure-clad bank. The native

warriors filed out, and with them a half-dozen white men. Sullen, ugly-looking

The Beasts of Tarzan